Access Arrangements
Key Contact: Vanesa Campillo Lopera, Exam Access Arrangements Co-ordinator and Qualified Assessor examaccessarrangements@stbrn.ac.uk
Some students require Access Arrangements in order to access tasks in lessons and exams in GCSEs, Access to level 3, Level 3, A-Levels and BTECs.
Access Arrangements are put in place to make it fair for all students and remove any disadvantages they may have. Access Arrangements must reflect the normal way of working in lessons.
There are a range of Access Arrangements which reflect the individual needs of students, these include:
- Extra time granted for the completion of exams (typically 25%)
- Reader
- Scribe
- Word-processor
- Rest Breaks
- Alternative rooming
- Other reasonable adjustments
Our Access Arrangements process follows regulations set by the Joint Council for Qualifications: https://www.jcq.org.uk/exams-office/access-arrangements-and-special-consideration/regulations-and-guidance/
The Exam Access Arrangements Co-ordinator (EAA Co.) makes applications at the start of Year 12 for students that require Access Arrangements.
Information is collected by the EAA Co. in partnership with teachers, in-class support staff and previous educational settings if students are carrying their Access Arrangements forward in to College. This must show:
- Evidence of need
- History of need
- The Access Arrangement being applied for is the student's normal way of working in College
If a parent/carer or teacher feels that a student is disadvantaged in a particular area and feels they would benefit from having a new Access Arrangement in their subject exams, they need to refer to the EAA Co. Referrals must be made during the student’s first year at College.
The EAA Co. will then investigate this further, collect evidence from teachers and staff and discuss their findings with the teacher and parents/carers. Psychometric assessment may be necessary for any new extra time and scribe requests.
In all cases written evidence in support of applications must be provided and must cover the dates appropriate to the claim.
Our Exam Access Arrangements Policy can be found here: http://www.stbrn.ac.uk/college-docs/college-documents/
