25th April 2018 Dear Parent/Carer, Re: GCSE Examinations and Study Leave The Examinations The GCSE examinations are fast approaching and at this point it is expected that your son/daughter has started their revision. A number of subjects are offering after school support sessions to help students with this, and I have attached an up to date programme for your information. I have also attached a poster on examinations from AQA. Your son/daughter should have by now received their statement of entry for the examinations. If for any reason your son/daughter has not received their statement of entry then they need to see Mrs Stinson, the Examinations Officer, as a matter of urgency; you need to make sure you are fully aware of when the examinations that your son/daughter are entered for are taking place. If there are any clashes with your son/daughter s examinations they will need to contact Mrs Stinson as soon as possible. It is important that your son/daughter arrives at least 10 minutes before the start of the examination and that they are fully equipped. If students do not have the equipment this can be obtained from the finance office or the LRC prior to the examinations. If you require help in purchasing equipment do not hesitate to let me know and I will ensure that we are assisting with this. Equipment needs to be stored in a clear pencil case or see through plastic bag (with no writing on it). Two black pens (black biro not gel pens) Two HB pencils Eraser 30 cm ruler Pencil sharpener Scientific calculator (please check the batteries are working and remove any stored data) Pair of compasses Angle measure or protractor Coloured crayons Please also remember any specialised equipment for particular examinations. In addition your son/daughter needs to bring with them a bottle of drinking water with a sports cap; please be aware that only water is allowed in the examination and the bottle needs to be clear with the label removed. If your son/daughter is absent from any of their examinations there is no opportunity to catch up or take these at a different time so they need to make every effort to attend. Please also be aware that if www.themarlboroughscienceacademy.co.uk Headteacher: Ms A Thomson BA, NPQH The Marlborough Science Academy is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee - Company No: 08003969
your son/daughter does not attend an examination you may be charged the examination fee for the missed examination and could receive a fixed penalty notice. If your son/daughter is going to be late, for example due to traffic congestion, please call the school on 01727 856874 but be aware that if they arrive more than 30 minutes after the start of the examination they may be refused entry. Please also be aware that students will be provided with a clear zip up wallet and mobile phones, IPods, MP3 players or other electronic devices will need to be switched off and placed in this along with student ID badges (see under non-uniform); the wallet will be placed at the front of the venue until the end of the examination. At the end of the examination the plastic wallets will be handed back to the students prior to them leaving their desks. If any of these items ring or bleep we have to inform the examination board which can lead to disqualification of the paper being sat, and any other papers with that examination board. Morning Examinations Prior to the morning examinations your son/daughter will need to register with their subject teacher at 8.30am for a 20 minute session to remind them of some key top tips for the examinations. Students will in the main be met by their subject teacher in their usual teaching room, a list will be placed on the Da Vinci Hall windows with the other examination data, and during this time they will be registered. At the end of the session they will need to go straight to the examination hall. The sessions will take place as follows: Monday 14th May ICT Tuesday 15th May French Listening and Reading Wednesday 16th May PE Thursday 17th May Chemistry Paper 1 Friday 18th May French Writing Tuesday 22nd May English Literature Wednesday 23rd May Business Studies Thursday 24th May Mathematics - non calculator Friday 25th May 2017 English Literature Monday 4th June History Tuesday 5th June English Language Wednesday 6th June Spanish Listening and Reading Thursday 7th June Mathematics - calculator Friday 8th June English Language Monday 11th June Biology Paper 2 Tuesday 12th June Mathematics - calculator Wednesday 13th June Chemistry Paper 2 Thursday 14th June Child Development / Spanish Writing Friday 15th June Physics Paper 2 Science Science sessions will start at 8am and students should go to the following rooms: F5/6 - Set 1 and 2, F3/4 - Higher combined students, F1/2 - Foundation combined students.
Mathematics Mathematics will be holding a 7.30am revision session with breakfast (bacon sandwiches/croissants etc.) prior to the three Mathematics papers for students. Students will need to meet in P2, P4, P5, P7, P11 and P12 for this and we are encouraging as many as possible to attend (please indicate on the reply slip your son/daughter s attendance). All Year 11 students will still need to attend the registration session at 8.30am. Study Leave and Revision Sessions The last day of school for Year 11 will be Friday 11th May. However, there are a number of practical examinations that will be taking place between now and then. Your son/daughter will need to be in school for all lessons up until Friday 11th May. Although your son/daughter will be on study leave from the end of Friday 11th May staff will be available for revision sessions from Monday 14th May according to the Year 11 timetable up until the examination in a subject takes place or until Tuesday 19th June. There will be a timetable posted alongside the seating arrangements for the examinations on the Da Vinci Hall windows; please note that if there is a large examination taking place some classes in the core subjects may be put together but the revision sessions will still be available to all students who are not in the examination. Whilst I appreciate some students would prefer to study at home we are encouraging all students to attend their English, Mathematics and Science revision sessions. If your son/daughter is coming into school for revision they will need to sign in at reception. If your son/daughter wishes to come into school to complete private revision please complete the attached reply slip and we will provide a supervised classroom for them to carry this out. Please also indicate if they will need to purchase a school lunch as they might need to have this at a different time to the rest of the school (e.g. if they have an afternoon examination) and therefore we would need to arrange this. If your son/daughter has an afternoon examination they must be in school no later than 1.00pm for a 1.15pm start. Celebration Assembly We would like to celebrate with Year 11 the time that they have been at Marlborough prior to any of the written examinations taking place. We will therefore be holding a celebration assembly on Friday 4th May. Your son/daughter will need to arrive in school at 9.30am on Friday 4th May and go straight to the sports hall for the celebrations. Students will be expected to leave the site at 11.20am. It has become a tradition for the students to wear fancy dress costumes for their celebrations and I am sure the current Year 11 will wish to do the same. In the rare event that students behave poorly during their remaining time in school they need to be aware that they may lose their privileges including attendance at the Year 11 prom. Non-Uniform Following the celebrations on Friday 4th May students will be able to wear non-uniform to school from Tuesday 8th May however they need to ensure that this is appropriate for school. We would not expect to see the following: piercings or tattoos, very short shorts or skirts, midriffs, tops with spaghetti straps
or off the shoulder, t-shirts with unsuitable logos or anything else deemed as inappropriate by the leadership team. Students will be issued with an ID badge which they will need to wear around the site at all times. Following their last exam these should be handed into reception, all badges will need to be returned. Returning Books/Leaving Card Your son/daughter will shortly be given a Leavers card showing the names of their teachers/lessons who they have borrowed text books from. Over the next few weeks as they complete their examinations your son/daughter will need to make sure that they return any outstanding text books to their subject teachers. Once a book is returned your son/daughter will need to get the member of staff to sign their card. The card also needs to be signed off by the main office to say that they do not have an outstanding balance on their catering account. Your son/daughter needs to pay this off at their earliest opportunity and before Friday 11th May. When your son/daughter has had all of their subjects signed off they will need to hand the card into the pastoral office, this should be no later than Tuesday 19th June. Please be aware that if they fail to return their card they may be charged for any outstanding books/equipment and may not be able to receive their examination results on Thursday 23rd August until payment has been received. Uniform Exchange The school runs a uniform exchange/provision so we would be grateful if you could consider donating your son/daughter s blazers or any uniform that you will no longer require that is in a good condition. If you would like to do this please bring the clean clothing in a plastic bag labelled second hand uniform to reception. Thank you in advance for your support with this. Finally all that remains is for me to wish your son/daughter every success in their GCSE examinations and remind you that the Year 11 results day is on Thursday 23rd August 2018, the results will be available for collection at 10.30am. If you do have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. Yours sincerely, Miss D Crook Deputy Headteacher
GCSE Examinations and Study Leave Reply Slip Name Form Please complete the reply slip below and return it to Miss S Smith via the main office by Wednesday 9 th May 2018. I would like my son/daughter to be able to study in school on the following mornings/afternoons (please tick in the relevant box): Date Study in school AM PM Have a school lunch Bring in a packed lunch Monday 14 th May Tuesday 15 th May Wednesday 16 th May Thursday 17 th May Friday 18 th May Monday 21 st May Tuesday 22 nd May Wednesday 23 rd May Thursday 24 th May Friday 25 th May My son/daughter will be attending the 7.30am Mathematics revision sessions with breakfast on: Thursday 24 th May Thursday 7 th June Tuesday 12 th June Signed Parent/Carer Date