23/24 Advice for Exam Access Arrangements - English Curriculum

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Update for 2023-24

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Common Errors in EAA 22/23 from 629 Inspections

Data Protection Forms not completed
Personal data consent for over 13’s not completed
Form 8 Part 1, 2, & 3 not all complete
File notes – not present, no centre based evidence, no file note for computer reader/reader
Access Arrangement Evidence – SENCo unable to provide some evidence
No Word Processor Policy
Assessor’s Qualification was not available for inspection or doesn’t meet the regulations in Chapter 7
Principal impairment not selected clearly – only pick one such as medical or learning difficulty not ‘and’
Applications not processed at the time of the Inspector’s visit (must apply online for ASC/ADHD etc)
Two below average SAS or one below average SAS/one low average scores relating to two different areas of speed of working for 25%
Incomplete Form 8 accepted from a previous centre for GCSE or A Level

Key Reminders

Current EHCP/Evidence of Need you must provide centre based evidence and online application as well (23/24 now on Form 9: see below)
Data consent forms – Candidates (over 13) must sign the data consent form before online application – advice that this is the first piece of evidence visible and Data Protection Confirmation by SENCo/Exams Officer
Form 8 Part 1 should be completed prior to student assessment
Form 8 Part 2 should be completed by the assessor & signed and you have evidence of their qualification
Form 8 Part 3 signed by SENCo
Word Processor Policy must be produced and approved by a Senior Leadership Team member and be available for inspection demonstrating how you are allocating WP/Laptops

2023/24 Changes and Updates

Three new access arrangements
- - Mobile phone for medical purposes (such as monitoring diabetes) : complete Form 9 and confirm medical condition and justify why with formal evidence and invigilated 1:1 whilst they are in possession of their mobile phone.
  - Remote invigilation may be used in rare and exceptional circumstances. Formally diagnosed medical or psychological condition or physical disability or a substantial illness or injury such as hospitalised after an accident. Complete Form 9, confirm the centre is not appropriate, an invigilator can not go to the candidates home, the candidate has not sat any exams and therefore not able to meet special consideration. AAO will automatically rejected and you will need to refer.
  - Timetable variation requiring overnight supervision for a candidate with a disability. Formally diagnosed medical condition, visual impairment, physical disability, or visual impairment. Where a candidate can only sit one exam a day due to support such as 100% time, supervised rest breaks and is unable to take more than one exam. Full details and proposal of changes to be added to Form 9 required, approval for one move from afternoon to the morning. Overnight supervision form will be complete and available for inspection.

Three new forms

- - Form 9 – for new applications of rest breaks, 25% time on EHCP or 26%-50% for an impairment other than learning difficulties, time over 50%, computer reader/reader for candidates with learning difficulties who require a computer reader/reader but do not require extra time and/or scribe, or candidates who have an impairment other than a learning difficulty, scribe where a candidate has a current EHCP(evidence) or an impairment other than a learning difficulty replaces the file note – no need to replace existing File Note
  - Form 9 – one form for multiple arrangements; provides structure to the centre based evidence; helps the inspectors to demonstrate compliance
  - Form 8RF will be used where Form 8 rolls forward from GCSE to GCE AS/A Level and requires 25% time, computer reader/reader and/or a scribe
  - BD25% form for Bilingual Dictionary 25% time for use where dictionary is used, or entitled bur prohibited and not used. See below.

Colour blind candidates for Geography – colour naming may be distracting to others and time consuming. SENCo may provide online application for ‘other’ providing evidence and reason for annotating the paper before the exam and the candidate is provided with pre-annotated paper prior to the start of exam. Online application is required.
Visually Impaired candidates : a reader may help a vision impaired candidate to retrieve information (maps etc). The candidate must make it clear what s/he needs support with. For example with a shape – the reader may say how many sides the shape has but may not ‘name’ the object as a pentagon/square etc. Online application is required.
Word Processor with Spell Check and Grammar check on, with no EHCP, Form 8 for learning difficulty must show a below average spelling accuracy of 84 or less with unrecognisable spellings. With predictor text subject specific bank of words is not permitted.
Separate Invigilation is now called Alternative Rooming Arrangements emphasis is on small groups of candidates with similar needs. This has been amended to reduce parent requests for single room.
Bilingual Dictionary with Extra Time time has been raised from 10% to 25%. Where the Bilingual Dictionary is prohibited (English Lit, English Lang, Geography, History, Religious Studies, or MFL) the candidate can retain their 25% extra time allowance.
Students new to English for AS and A Level can now apply for 25% time and dictionary using ‘other’. Very rare and exceptional circumstances.
Separate Invigilation Does not mean one room, for one candidate, for the purpose of nervousness, low level anxiety or being worried about exams is not sufficient groups for separate invigilation.
Reminder Diagnosis of dyslexia is not enough to award extra time. Up to date assessment must be made in Year 9 or after and a Form 8 completed.

7.0 Responsibility

The Heads of Centre (Head Teachers / Principals) have overall responsibility for Exam Access Arrangements and this chapter is worth reading.

7.3 Time Allocation

The Head of Centre (Principal/Headteacher) must ensure that Exam Access Assessors / SENCos or Heads of Inclusion must have time to:

Manage the arrangements
Familiarise themselves with changes to regulations (both the AARA and ICE)

7.4.1 Assessor Qualification

SENCos must hold on file for inspection purposes evidence that the assessor(s) is/
are suitably qualified. This can be drawn from websites (examples are given in the AARP)