2025/26 Changes and Updates - JCQ Exam Access Arrangements
- Additional Qualifications: Camridge Advanced Nationals, Essential Skills, NCFE Vocational & TEch Quals (for 25/26 not on AAO so follow processing for NCFE as they stipulate until 26/27)
- Start to implement arrangements that prepare children for the workpalce (i.e. won’t get 25% time in work, text to speech)
- 25% time may not be most appropriate
- Signed Personal Data consent form and data protection confirmation is no required
- Students must still be informed that an applicationis made online – do comply with UK GDPR/Data Protection Act 2018
- Consider rest breaks instead of time for conditions such as ADHD, anxiedty, mental health, fatigue etc
- Part 1, 2 and 3 flow – skeleton information in Part 1 is no longer sufficient
- Comments from parents are not to be included in Part 1
- Statements on Form 8 Part 1 must be implemented before Assessment for the Assessor
- Must have a sample of internal school test/mock exam papers across relevant subjects
- Example : google form, survey monkey etc can be used for teacher feedback
- 25% instead of Supervised Rest Breaks must be tried and exhausted
- Part 1 of Form 9 should also include a ‘candidate story’ (no parent comment, sample of tests/mocks, showing application and how they are using it.
- If a child progresses to another school/college Form 8 and 9 should be shared with information abou the assessosr/certificate`
- Readers should be applied when reading skills are poort, otherwise reader pen
- Communication Professional has been renamed Sign Language Assistant
- Doodling paper is now allowed – no application online – include it in with the answer sheet in case there are answers on it
- Bilingual Dictionary with 25% Time – revised – canbe used til the end of the Exam Series
- Remote invigilation does not mean going to another location – that would be alternative site arrangement – it means the candidate and invigilator are in different places. Such as Zoom, Teams etc – maybe due to medical condition
- Timetable variation for overnight supervision –
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)
