The Armthorpe School - Exams Information

The school offers a wide range of assessment and examination opportunities across the school to ensure that our pupils are able to gain access to the courses which are right for them. This allows our pupils to achieve qualifications that meet their individual needs and so will open the doors for their future development, be that in further education, further training or the world of work.

We also use some tests as a tool to ensure that pupils are correctly placed in teaching groups and to identify any individual needs that pupils may have. These tests are the ‘Cognitive Ability Tests’ or ‘CATS’ which are held at the beginning of Year 7 and again at the beginning of Year 9.

At the end of Y9 pupils are involved in the Statutory Attainment Tests or ‘SAT’s’ in English, Mathematics and Science.

In Key Stage 4, in addition to GCSE courses, pupils are offered BTEC courses in some subjects. BTEC courses have a vocational aspect to them and are linked to activities outside of the immediate school environment. Some pupils are also offered the opportunity to study for NVQ qualifications in aspects of construction and motor vehicle maintenance. In addition to GCSE English and Mathematics it is sometimes appropriate that pupils sit Adult Numeracy and Adult Literacy examinations in order to demonstrate their skills. The Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE) and Key Skills qualifications are also available.

Some pupils are given the opportunity to sit final examinations earlier than the summer of Year 11. Examples of this are Statistics or English Literature in Year 10.

Some of our courses are modular which means that examinations are sat at regular intervals throughout Years 10 and 11 and the results combined in a final overall result.

In the sixth form in addition to AS and A2 examinations pupils are again offered BTEC, Key skills and CoPE qualifications where appropriate.

Pupils are fully supported when preparing for examinations. In addition to normal classroom and after school support we hold a revision conference in the Easter or half term prior to the main exams; regular focussed workshops are held along with lectures and individual support is provided through a programme of mentoring.

The range of qualifications and the support services offered is constantly monitored and reviewed to ensure that our pupils get the best possible service to allow them to achieve their potential.