Dear Parent, Carer or Guardian,

Please carefully read the information below, emailed today to your young learner, regarding Year 1 Practice Exams:

Dear Year 1 students

Year 1 A level and IB Students - Monday 28 April - Friday 2 May

Year 1 advanced level students will be sitting their practice exams during the week of Monday 28 April - Friday 2 May. These exams provide teachers with an opportunity to give feedback on progress and provide the appropriate support and direction needed to succeed. They will be run under full exam conditions and should be seen as an opportunity to practice under the same conditions as the final assessments next year. It is important to note that Year 1 A level lessons will not be run during this practice exam week. The Exam timetable is now visible on the exams tab of MyVarndean and the parent portal.

Visual Arts students should continue to attend their Art & Design lessons during the practice exam week as they will be completing a Year 1 mock exam experience, in normal lesson time starting on Monday 28 April.

Year 1 students on Vocational Level 3 courses

Students studying on a Level 3 Vocational subject (Level 3 BTEC, CTEC, CACHE or Diploma) have completed coursework, and some will have completed external exams throughout their first year of study. An end of year grade will be awarded after the May half term, which is based upon the grades achieved in coursework and external exams/assessments.

Lessons will continue as normal for Year 1 Level 3 Vocational students during the practice exam week, although students on a mixed timetable will need to attend A-level mock examinations.

We will be publishing the results of these assessments after the May half term, and they will feed into the summer report cards that we send home in June. A parents' evening will follow shortly after on 17 June, and I will be in contact nearer the time with full details.

Year 2, GCSE and Level 2 Vocational courses will not be affected by the practice exam week.

It just remains for me to wish all students the very best of luck in their preparation for these assessments over the coming weeks.

Yours sincerely

James Gordon, Deputy Principal