Summer 2026 examinations

• Individual candidate timetables (provisional) will be handed out to students at the end of January for checking
• Notification of any exam clash arrangements will be discussed with students prior to the start of the exam season
• For Modern Foreign Language speaking tests, Art and Photography individual times will be given to students via the subject leader/member of staff
• Final individual candidate timetables will be emailed to students/parents/carers in late April with details of rooming and seating
• Summer exam series starts on Monday 4 May 2026
• Summer exam series ends on Tuesday 23 June 2026 (open to change)
• Contingency day - Please remember students should be available on Wednesday 24 June 2026 (tbc)

Timetable clashes

• If students are taking two or more papers timetabled in a session and the total time is three hours or less the Exams Manager will decide in which order to hold them. A short, supervised 20 minute break may be given between the two papers in the same session so students cannot revise
• If students are taking two or more papers timetabled in a session and the total time is more than three hours the Exams Manager is allowed to schedule an exam in an earlier or later session within the day
• If students have three or more exams in one day, the Exams Manager is allowed to schedule one of the exams for the following day. This will be discussed with the parent/carer and an overnight supervision form will be completed by all parties concerned
• Notification of any exam clash arrangements will be discussed with the candidate prior to the start of the exam season, details are then emailed to each candidate
• In all circumstances students must be kept under centre supervision between papers and must not be in possession of electronic communication/storage devices or have access to the internet. This is also the case for candidates with overnight supervision

Attendance at exams

• Morning exams start at 9:00am, line up at 8:45am
• Afternoon exams start at 1:30pm, line up at 1:15pm
• Students are required to arrive earlier than the actual start time of the exam because it takes time to seat everyone in the correct order and read the warning notices
• Students arriving late will still be allowed to sit the exam. However, the Exams Manager must submit a report to the awarding body. They may decide not to accept the paper for marking if they are not satisfied that the security and integrity of the exam has been maintained. Please note, the above times may vary. You will be informed of any changes to start times
• External exams – Students must read their timetable carefully. If you turn up at the wrong time or on the wrong day you may have missed your exam and will not have the opportunity to take it in this session
• Bags, coats or other outdoor clothing are not allowed in the exam room. They must be stored in the allocated ‘bag room’
• Please bring at least two black ballpoint pens (pencil cases must be clear) ensure you have all the equipment required for every exam
• Calculators – students to check if exams require a calculator. You will be asked to place the lid on the floor next to your desk. Calculators are not provided by the School
• Potential technological/web enabled sources of information e.g. mobile phones, iPods, smart watches, watches and other electronic devices are not allowed in the exam room. If you are wearing a watch you will be asked to remove it and hand it to the invigilator/s
• Water is allowed in a small bottle which must be clear of all logos/labels

Mobile phones, iPods, smart watches, watches and other electronic devices

• Once the exam has started, if students are found with any device capable of communication with the Internet (switched on or off), the exam board will be informed and action will be taken
• Marks will be lost if a phone, iPod, smart watch or watch are in a student’s possession even if there is no evidence of it being used
• If there is evidence of a phone, iPod, smart watch, or watch being used during the exam the student can be disqualified from part or ALL of their exams
• DO NOT BRING A PHONE, IPOD, SMART WATCH, WATCH OR OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICE TO ANY EXAMS

Afternoon travel arrangements

Exams are generally timetabled to ensure students finish within School hours. On occasion, (normally A Level) they will not finish their exams until after School finishes. Students and parents should be aware of this and make appropriate arrangements for getting home.

Students are not allowed out of an exam early in order to keep the security of the exam paper. Please ensure your child checks their exam commitments for each day on the previous evening and make travel arrangements as appropriate.

Absence from exams – illness or injury

If you are ill or injured please try to come to School if possible as exams cannot be rearranged. Special arrangements may be made for candidates with an injury or feeling poorly. Proof of major illness should be supported by a GP note.

Exams cannot be rearranged. It is important that students attend unless the illness or injury makes it impossible for them to do so in which case the awarding bodies will require a GP certificate.

Special consideration

Special consideration can only be requested for issues that arise, or manifest themselves, at the time of the exam. Levels of consideration, for example;

• 5% is the maximum allowance and is reserved for the most exceptional cases such as terminal illness of the student, parent/carer, very recent death of a member of the immediate family or very serious and disruptive crisis/incident at or near the time of the exam
• 4% is for very serious problems such as life-threatening illness of the student or member of the immediate family, major surgery at or near the time of the exam, severe disease, very recent death of a member of extended family, severe or permanent bodily injury occurring at the time of the exam or a serious crisis/incident at the time of the exam
• 3% is a more common category for recent traumatic experiences such as the death of a close friend or distant relative, recent illness of a more serious nature or recently broken limbs, organ disease. More cases will fall into this category
• 2%-1% is reserved for more minor problems such as illness at the time of the exam for which the Exams Manager must be satisfied that there is sufficient medical evidence. The majority of cases will fall within the 2% category

Information as to the % given is not shared with the School. Schools only receive notice if applied. Where the request for special consideration fails to meet the criteria, it will be rejected by the awarding body

Rules of conduct

• Exams and Non-Examined Assessments (NEA) are important events and students must follow the rules
• Rules are set by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), not School and are in place to ensure that exams are secure and fair for everyone
• If students break the rules (deliberately or accidentally), they will be penalised and could be disqualified from ALL subjects

Examination regulations and behaviour

Results

• GCE (A Level) results day – Thursday 13 August 2026
• GCSE results day – Thursday 22 August 2026
• Results are emailed to students via their school email at 8.00am
• Results will not be disclosed over the telephone or by email under any circumstances
• Certificates arrive in school by late October/early November

Exams Office staff

• Exams Manager: Mrs Neill
• Exams Administration Officer: Mr S Wordley
• Email address: exams@kes.sheffield.sch.uk