School Policies
Public Examinations
The progress of each student is monitored from entry. During Year 9 the PHSE programme includes advice and guidance on career opportunities and examination requirements. Students are not encouraged to make career, job or post-school course choices at this time but emphasis at this stage is upon breadth and balance.
Most courses have an element of continuous assessment and parents are expected to see that their son/daughter meets the published deadlines. Students who fail to complete work will not be awarded a GCSE grade by the examination boards. The Examinations Officer monitors students experiencing difficulties with coursework in order to offer assistance. Parents should contact the Examinations Officer concerning any problems which may affect their child's performance with these assignments. School examinations take place as a planned programme to enable students to practise and gain confidence before being faced with the public examinations. Previous performance and a student's attitude determine which examination courses s/he will take. 'Mock' examinations are held during Years 10 and 11 and entries are based on these results and on general progress during the course.
In Year 11 students are entered for the General Certificate of Secondary Education. Hope High uses the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (which includes the South Examining Group and the Northern Examination Assessment Board), OCR (formerly the Midland Examination Group and RSA) and Edexcel Foundation (which incorporates BTEC and London Examinations). Experienced teachers select the syllabi most suited to the needs of our students.
All students are interviewed in February by their Mentor, to discuss their examinations. Before the entries are submitted to the Examination Board, parents have the opportunity to liaise with the school concerning the requirements of each examination and the progress of their child.
It is essential that parents understand the current system and are in a position to discuss their child's prospects realistically. Meetings are arranged to explain the whole procedure to parents - not just about the examinations but also continuous assessment and coursework requirements and individual appointments can be arranged on request.
