Exam Access Arrangements Policy

Examination Access Arrangements Policy

As a school community, we recognise the rights of all students to progress in their learning and the role that the entire school community plays in this development.

Purpose of the policy:

The purpose of this policy is to confirm that Discovery Bay International School has a written record which clearly shows the centre is leading on the access arrangements process and is complying with its “...obligation to identify the need for, request and implement access arrangements...” [JCQ General Regulations for Approved Centres, 5.5]

SCHOOL AIMS:

• To promote a culture of excellence in teaching and learning.
• To encourage internationalism, providing students with the skills, dispositions and knowledge to participate in an increasingly interconnected world.
• To use innovative pedagogy and technology to enrich learning.
• To foster a learning community where every student, teacher, staff member, parent and DBIS alumni has an ongoing passion for learning.

RATIONALE:

The key principle of teaching and learning in the Secondary School is that students are recognised as individuals, striving for excellence and it is the duty of staff to support all learners. As such their needs are supported through the application of special exam access arrangements.

Access arrangements at DBIS :

• Access arrangements are agreed upon before assessments/examinations, to allow candidates with specific needs, such as special educational needs or temporary injuries to access the assessment/examinations.
• The intention behind an access arrangement is to meet the particular needs of an individual candidate without affecting the integrity of the assessment.
• Access arrangements are the principal way in which awarding bodies comply with the duty under the Equality Act 2010 to make ‘reasonable adjustments’.

Reasonable adjustments:

• DBIS ensures that reasonable steps are taken to overcome any disadvantages the student may otherwise have.
• A reasonable adjustment may be unique to that individual and may not be included in the list of available access arrangements.
• An adjustment will be considered reasonable depending on a number of factors which will include, but are not limited to:

• the needs of the candidate
• the effectiveness of the adjustment
• the likely impact of the adjustment upon the candidate and other candidates

Duty to make a reasonable adjustment:

• It is the duty of DBIS to request access arrangements from an awarding body ensuring that a candidate is not put at a substantial disadvantage.
• In such circumstances, the awarding body is required to take reasonable steps to avoid that disadvantage.

The Exam Access Arrangements (EAA) that are available:

• Supervised rest breaks
• Extra time
• Computer reader/reader
• Scribe
• Word processor
• Prompter
• Live speaker for pre-recorded examination components

Other arrangements for candidates:

• Bilingual translation dictionaries
• Modified papers (e.g. coloured/enlarged paper)
• A reasonable adjustment may be unique to an individual and may not be included in the list of available access arrangements.

All of the above EAA have to be a student’s normal way of working with evidence provided.

Evidence needed for Exam Access Arrangements:

DBIS will provide evidence as required to apply for an Exam Access Arrangement

These include:

• Form 8 Report from Access Arrangements Assessor
• Previous Access Arrangements from other schools
• Subject teachers – examples of work as appropriate
• Results of baseline tests e.g. reading/comprehension scores, writing tests etc.

Staff roles in determining and managing EAA:

Examinations Officer:

• Ensure that the agreed EAA provisions are in place for exams and are communicated to the invigilators.
• To manage any on-the-day questions and queries regarding EAA provision.
• To put in place (in conjunction with the Individual Needs department) any on-the-day provisions – such as medical emergencies.
• To ensure students are roomed suitably for their Access Arrangement and to ensure zero disruption for other students also sitting exams.

Teaching Staff:

• To provide relevant information/evidence of the candidate’s persistent and significant difficulties.
• To show how the candidate’s difficulty has impacted on candidate’s learning in the classroom.
• Provide evidence of this
• Detail the candidate’s normal way of working within the centre, the support given and how this relates to the proposed arrangement. For example teaching staff must record any support regularly provided in the classroom.
• To ensure that the correct EAA’s are in place for assessments.

Arrangements requiring awarding body approval:

• Applications for access arrangements are submitted to the exam boards using their online tool (AAO).
• A single application is required for each candidate regardless of the awarding body used.
• Once approved the candidate’s report is held on his/her file and exam board cover sheets are printed (where applicable) in preparation for any external exams taken.
• Their approval number and application expiry date are recorded.

Centre-delegated access arrangements:

• Where exam board approval is not required, Discovery Bay International School may grant individual candidates personal arrangements to meet their individual needs if at a substantial disadvantage when compared with other candidates undertaking the assessment.
• Appropriate evidence is held on their file and implemented through lessons and all exams undertaken.

Separate invigilation within the School:

• A decision where an exam candidate may be approved for separate invigilation within DBIS will be made by the Head of Inclusion.
• The decision will be based on whether the candidate has a substantial and long-term impairment which has an adverse effect on their ability to take examinations under normal conditions

This policy is maintained and held by the Head of Inclusion alongside the individual files of each access arrangements candidate. Each file contains detailed records of all the essential information that is required to be held according to the regulations.

The Head of Inclusion will review the policy on a two-year cycle