24th April 2015
Dear Parents/ Carers
Year 11 Examinations and Revision Programme
As we approach the summer examination period I wanted to share with you how impressed I have been by the
maturity and commitment our Year 11 students have displayed since they have returned after Easter. More students
than ever before are staying on for additional revision sessions at lunchtime and after school each day and many
students came in to work with staff during the Easter holidays.
I also wanted to share with you that our main emphasis during these final few weeks before the exams will be to
maintain a calm, stable and structured routine in school so that your son/daughter’s revision can be as effective as
possible and also to ensure the full attendance which is essential in those subjects where examinations have not yet
taken place. Our students, therefore, will follow their normal school timetable until Friday May 22nd unless they have
an examination or unless an additional revision session has been organised during the school day.
However, to ensure the smooth running of the Year 11 exams we will be making some changes. First, we have
changed the structure of the school day between Monday 11th May and Friday 12th June so that lunch will be at an
earlier time.
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Lunch will now take place after Period 3 between 12.15 and 1.00.
Period 4 will take place between 1.00 and 2.00.
Period 5 will take place between 2.00 and 3.00
We have done this so that students with an afternoon examination can eat before their exam and also to ensure that
the school is quieter during the afternoon examinations.
We have also changed the start times so that morning exams will now usually start at 9.30 am and afternoon exams
will begin at 1.20 pm in most cases. The slightly later 9.30 start should mean that students are more awake for their
morning examination and also gives us the opportunity to deliver last minute advice about exam technique for each
individual exam. Unless otherwise instructed Year 11 students must register in their normal classes for Period 1, even
if they have to leave for their exam, since there will often be a ‘Heads Up’ final revision session during this first
lesson. Breakfasts can be purchased from 8.00am for those students who prefer to eat at school and free fruit and
bottled water will provided for all students taking exams. All students should be reminded that they need to bring all
the equipment they require for the exam into school with them.
After half term – from June 1st onwards - normal lessons will not run. However, revision sessions will be available for
students who wish to attend them (please see details on page 7 of the attached revision programme). Places can be
booked using the normal Parents Evening booking system from Tuesday May 5th onwards. Please also note that
places should be booked at least 48 hours before the session is scheduled to begin. Some BTEC students may need to
continue to attend their BTEC lessons until 12th June in order to make sure that all their work is complete – they
should check with their teachers to see if this applies to them.
Attached to this letter are some simple Guidelines for students taking exams – please encourage your son/ daughter
to read through them and please also see the attached Revision Programme for the next few weeks which informs
the students (and yourselves) what is happening on each day. We wish your son/daughter every success in the
coming examinations.
Yours faithfully
Michael Gleeson
Executive Principal
Wootton Academy Trust operates
Wootton College
Kimberley College
Registered in England and Wales
Company No. 7740758
Wootton Academy Trust
Hall End Road, Wootton
Bedford MK43 9HT
01234 767123
[email protected]
www.wootton.beds.sch.uk
www.stemcollege.co.uk
Guidelines for your Examinations: 
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All students will be issued with a copy of their individual timetable which shows which room and
seat they are in for all of their exams. Please keep this somewhere safe.
Students will be expected to know their candidate number and their seat numbers for every exam.
Please use this timetable to check what time exams are due to finish and make sure you have
transport arrangements in place should they be required.
Please be aware that on a small number of occasions some examinations may finish after the school
buses have left (see attached programme for details) and it will be necessary for parents or carers
to arrange transport home.
Remember - students with Access Arrangements, especially those with extra time should note that
they may be finishing afternoon exams after the bus has departed.
Unfortunately, the exam boards will not allow us to start afternoon exams any earlier than 1pm.
No mobile phones, smart watches, iPods or any other gadgets should be brought into the exam
room.
Calculator lids are not permitted in the exam rooms and all stationery should be in a see through
pencil case.
All personal belongings should be stored in J3 and J4 (TBC) before the start of the exams.
Once students leave the school and go on study leave they should make sure that they are on site at
least 30 minutes before their exam is due to start. Students will be given further information about
where to register for their exams after June 1st nearer the time.
Water will be available for all students in the exam rooms, but if you wish to bring your own water
this must be in a clear plastic bottle with the label removed.
Food is not permitted in the exam room except in exceptional circumstances which must be agreed
with the Exams Officer before the start of the exam season.
If you are ill on the day of the exam and too unwell to sit the exam please call the college and ask to
speak the Exams Officer as soon as possible.
If you are able to sit the exam but have been disadvantaged in some way though illness, injury or
bereavement etc. please speak to the Exams Officer in confidence so that we can apply for Special
Consideration from the Exam Boards.
Wootton Academy Trust operates
Wootton College
Kimberley College
Registered in England and Wales
Company No. 7740758
Wootton Academy Trust
Hall End Road, Wootton
Bedford MK43 9HT
01234 767123
[email protected]
www.wootton.beds.sch.uk
www.stemcollege.co.uk