March 2025

As students begin their final preparations for the diet of national examinations there are some practicalities which students and parents/carers should be aware of.

STUDY LEAVE/EXAM LEAVE

Study leave is offered on the understanding students use their study leave time effectively, working from home or in school to prepare for their SQA examinations.

The dates of Study Leave are:  Thursday 24^th April to Friday 30^th May inclusive.

Monday 2^nd June is a local holiday and therefore the new S5 and S6 will return to school on Wednesday 4th  June to start their induction programme.

Subject teachers may request that students return to school during study leave for additional tutorials and to complete outstanding work toward Unit Assessments.

On any given day during study leave students may work at home, or in school.  Those who choose to work in school should sign in and then go to a designated study area/room for that date and time.  Teachers can provide advice to pupils who wish to prepare for further qualification in a particular subject.

Normal school dress code applies during the examination period.  If pupils are in school, to study or to sit an examination they must be wearing school uniform. Dress code also, assists invigilators in ensuring that everyone in the exam is entitled to be there.  The invigilation team appreciate the support they receive from parents in this regard.

Pupils bringing any bags to school during their exams must store them securely in a locker – they must not be left in corridors in social spaces, or obstructing doorways.  Mobile phones and Smart watches (including FitBits) should not be brought into the must be stored in bags and must be turned off.

 

YOUR EXAMS 2025 BOOKLET

A copy of the Your Exams 2025 Booklet can be found here https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/100863.html . This booklet is no longer issued to all pupils as a printed copy. Please note that the information on Page 14 of the Your Exams Booklet references asking permission to leave the exam early.  Please note that at Alford Academy we do not permit pupils to leave early.  This is to avoid disruption to other pupils.

EXAM TIMETABLE AND CONFIRMATION LETTER

Exam timetables will be issued on Wednesday 26^th March as well as a confirmation letter of all the courses your young person is entered for.  Any pupil who has not received a printed copy can collect one from campus reception or from Dr Skellern.  The contents are important and should be read and checked.

Students should be aware that adjustments to start times have been made locally for some exams compared with the times published on the SQA website, so please always refer to the issued individual timetable for exam times. Pupils should arrive 10 minutes before the start of their exam.

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

Most examinations are scheduled such that pupils can still use school transport if they wish, but it is the responsibility of students to ensure they make suitable travel arrangements where this is not the case.

PROHIBITED ITEMS

The following items may not be brought into the examination room. Any candidate found in possession of prohibited equipment during the examination may have their entry for the examination cancelled.

Mobile phones, Smart watches (including FitBits), MP3 Players/iPods, pencil cases, calculator cases, notes, or books other than those expressly permitted by the SQA for a given exam.  Food and drink is not permitted within the exam venue, except by prior agreement with the SQA coordinator or the Chief Invigilator.  Where bottled water is permitted the label must be removed from the bottle. Headphones, Bluetooth earphones, earbuds or EarPods are not permitted, and we would ask that candidates tie hair back to ensure their ears are visible to invigilators for the duration of exams.

Calculators

Class teachers will inform pupils whether a calculator can be used in their examination papers.  Sharing of calculators is not permitted.  It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that their calculator does not contain:

• a computer algebra system (CAS)
• stored data or text
• any form of hand-held computer.

LATENESS AND ABSENCE

While it cannot always be guaranteed, if for any reason, a student is late for an examination, they should report to the examination without delay, where they will be advised by the invigilator team if they are permitted to enter late.  If possible, the school office should be informed, and an indication of the students expected arrival time given.  If your young person is ill and unable to sit an examination, please inform the school by telephone before the start of the examination and provide the school with a medical certificate covering the dates of the absence as soon as possible.

PUPILS UNABLE TO ATTEND EXAMINATIONS

If a pupil is unable to attend an examination for a legitimate reason, the SQA’s Examination Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service (EECCS) will be triggered.  Information on this can be found at; https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/79042.html

MALPRACTICE

Candidates may forfeit marks or have an award in the current diet of examinations, in any or all of their subjects, cancelled if they are perceived to or attempt to or if their conduct is contrary to any of the following conditions:

Candidates must not:

• take into the examination room any prohibited item.
• communicate in any way with another pupil during an examination.
• intentionally cause a disturbance in the examination room.
• submit work, which is frivolous, abusive, or otherwise offensive.
• cause disruption in an exam or while leaving an exam.

Students who have any query or problem (not relating to the content of the exam paper) during an examination should quietly raise their hand and wait for an invigilator to respond.  Pupils must remain seated in the examination room until dismissed by the exam’s invigilator.

Examination Results

The SQA will deliver examination results to the student’s nominated address (as shown on the timetables) on Tuesday 5th August 2024.  Students who also wish to access their results by text message or email first thing on the 5th August should sign up with:

https://www.mysqa.org.uk/cs8/content/secure/my_homepage.jsp

We greatly appreciate your support in discussing the contents of this letter with your child.

On behalf of the staff at Alford Academy, we wish your young person every success and thank you for your assistance in helping them prepare for these important examinations.

 

Yours sincerely

Matt Skellern

Dr Matt Skellern

(Depute Head Teacher/SQA Coordinator)