Exams

Notre Dame High School is committed to making every effort to ensure that the examinations are conducted in line with JCQ regulations Home – JCQ Joint Council for Qualifications and our own bespoke policies below.

We will ensure that our pupils are as well informed as possible for their examinations.

We have several teachers who are examiners in their subject area, this keeps the knowledge in the relevant subject field, fully up to date with the assessment criteria.

Students’ personal exam information (venue, exam seat, tier of entry and general information) can be viewed on Student Portal and MCAS.

Exam Schedules

  • Year 13 Mock Assessment Week One – 20th October 2025
  • 2025–26 Assessments & Examinations Schedule
  • Year 11 MFL Speaking Exams:
    Students will be advised of their examination time slot individually
    • Spanish – Week commencing 3rd November
    • 2025 French – Week commencing 10th November 2025
  • GCSE Maths & English resit exams – 4th – 10th November 2025
  • Year 11 & Year 10 MS1 Assessment Week One – 24th November 2025
    The schedule will appear here week commencing 3rd November 2025
  • Year 11 MFL Listening Examinations – Tuesday 25th November 2025
    Students will be advised of the arrangements 

Mock Assessments

  • Students in Year 10, 11, 12 & 13 will sit two mock assessments prior to the main summer examination series.  
    All mock assessments are to be held in the main exam halls/rooms (apart from the Y10 mock assessments in February 2026 which will be held in classrooms).
    We do this to ensure our students know what to expect during the formal examination series, we help them to settle and remain calm throughout.
    These will run as follows:
    • 20th October 2025 – Y13 – Week 1
    • 24th November 2025 – Y11 & Y10 MS1 – Week 1
    • 12th January 2026 – Y12 – Week 1
    • 9th February 2026 – Y10 – Week 1
    • 2nd March 2026 – Y11 & Y10 MS1 – Week 2
    • 16th March 2026 – Y13 – Week 2
    • 27th April 2026 – Y12 – Week 2

 Essential information for pupils and parents/carers:

  • Morning exams start at 9.00am and students are expected to be in school on time
  • Afternoon exams start at 1:00pm and students will have an early lunch on exam days
  • Any student who is entitled to access arrangements will have these in place for each of their exams
    • If a student decides at any point, they do not wish to use their access arrangements (one or several), we will ensure they continue to use them until we have discussed with parents/carers
  • All students should arrive promptly to their exam room, equipped with:
    • Pen
    • Pencil
    • Ruler
    • Calculator (no case)
    • Clear pencil case
    • Clear water bottle (if they wish)
    • A highlighter
    • Eraser

Should you have any areas of concern or queries in relation to examinations & assessments, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 Ms H Slater
Examinations & Cover Manager

Email: HSlater@notredame-high.co.uk
Telephone: 0114 230 2536 ext. 263

 

Private Candidates

We accept entries for qualifications which we don’t currently offer on our curriculum and/or where a student has already left Notre Dame and would like to return to resit.

To apply to sit a GCE or GCSE, please complete the form below and email it back to Ms. Slater at  hslater@notredame-high.co.uk

 2025-26 PRIVATE CANDIDATE – PRELIMINARY INFORMATION AND ENTRY FORM TEMPLATE

All exam entry fees, where applicable, should be paid using MCAS.   

For a student who has already left Notre Dame, a payment through BACS can be made, the details are on the application form above.

Awarding Bodies:
AQA – www.aqa.org.uk
OCR – www.ocr.org.uk
Edexcel (Pearson) – www.edexcel.com
Welsh Board – www.wjec.org.uk
NCFE – www.ncfe.org.uk

Exam Policies

JCQ Information