Dear Students, Parents and Guardians,
Summer Exams and Assessment Update
Our exam season is in full swing with creative art students completing their final assessments, and our International Baccalaureate students are currently on exam leave.
Some vocational exams start next week, shortly followed by GCSE exams. Students on foundation or vocational courses will continue to attend lessons as they finalise their coursework and complete revision activities, but they will have exam leave on the day of an exam.
From the Monday 12 May, the exam season starts in earnest, with our A-level exams also starting.The key dates for the exam season are included at the end of this letter.
A reminder that students can view their summer exam timetable on the Exams tab of MyVarndean. Where a clash of exams occurs, the Exams office will contact the students affected to make alternative arrangements. Also on the Exams tab is a copy of our exams handbook; a link can also be found here. Personal tutors have already highlighted key areas of this handbook to students within tutorial sessions.
Ofqual, who regulate the exam process in England, have a useful guide to the exam process which can be found here. I would like to draw your attention to the following points:
- Contingency sessions require students to be available on the afternoons of the 11 June and all day on the 25 June in case any of the summer public exams before these dates have not been able to take place.
- Please note the tightening of the rules around possessing phones, smartwatches, or similar devices. If a student is found to have any of these devices on their person, even if switched off during an exam, then this will be considered malpractice and taken seriously by the exam boards.
IB results will be released to students on Sunday 6 July. Our IB Diploma coordinator will write to students with more details soon.
All Level 3 vocational results will be released alongside A-Level results on Thursday 14 August 2025.
All Level 2 vocational results will be released alongside GCSES on Thursday 21 August.
Summer Exams and end of term arrangements - Key Dates:
| 12 - 16 May | Year 2 A level Revision week: A level students A level exams begin. All subjects will run revision sessions within normal lesson time, these are compulsory if you do not have an exam on that day. Teaching staff will advertise these directly to students. Vocational students Lessons will continue as normal and all students are expected to attend all lessons. Students will have exam leave on the day of an exam. GCSE students Lessons will continue as normal and all students are expected to attend all lessons. Students will have exam leave on the day of an exam. |
| 19 - 23 May | Year 2 Exam leave begins: A level students Normal timetable is suspended. Students will now be on exam leave. College study areas are available. Vocational students Vocational students with exams will now have exam leave. Lessons will continue for those students who need to finish off their coursework. GCSE students Lessons will continue as normal and all students are expected to attend |
| 26 - 30 May | Half term |
| Monday 2 June | Exams continue All Year 2 and foundation students are now on exam leave. |
| Wednesday 25 June | Last day of exams (including National Contingency Day) |
| Wednesday 2 July | Leavers Event (further details to follow) |
Teachers are offering a range of additional revision sessions and workshops which we encourage students to utilise over the next few weeks. A summary of what is on offer will be shared next week
Should any students need additional wellbeing support including strategies on how to cope with exam related stress, they can drop into the well-being space in Room 14.1 or email wellbeingzone@varndean.ac.uk
A reminder that the email for any exam-related enquiry is exam@varndean.ac.uk
It remains for me to wish all students the very best of luck in their final preparation for exams and assessments over the coming weeks.
Yours sincerely
James Gordon, Deputy Principal
