Exams
Exam Information and Policies
Examinations are a critical time for all children. As parents, you have a key role in ensuring that they are well organised and prepared. Please be aware of the following key information and policies.
EXAMINATIONS 2026
Summer Exams: 8/5/26 – 19/6/26
Contingency Day
The exam boards have designated 24/6/26 as the contingency day. All candidates sitting exams should be available up to and including this day in case of significant disruption to the exam schedule and the need to reschedule an exam.
Results Days
- Thursday 13th August – GCE
- Thursday 20th August – GCSE
GCE exam results are released on Thursday 13th August 2026 and GCSE exam results are released on Thursday 20th August 2026. The school will be open from 9.00 – 10.00 am. Students can collect their exam results from our sixth form centre. If a student would like a family member to collect them on their behalf, then they should email Mr C Morris (cmorris@purbeck.wessex.ac). Members of staff will be on hand to provide information, advice and guidance.
Exams can be a challenging part of school life for both children and parents. But there are ways to ease the stress. The NHS have compiled information, advice and guidance to support everyone:
Summer Exams Timetable
|
Date (2026) |
Subject |
Paper |
Session |
|
Fri 8 May |
Drama |
Written paper |
13:30 |
|
Fri 8 May |
Geology |
Paper 1 |
13:30 |
|
Mon 11 May |
English Literature |
Paper 1 |
08:50 |
|
Mon 11 May |
Business |
Paper 1 |
13:30 |
|
Tue 12 May |
Religious Studies |
Paper 1 |
08:50 |
|
Tue 12 May |
Biology |
Paper 1 |
13:30 |
|
Tue 12 May |
Combined Science (Biology) |
Paper 1 |
13:30 |
|
Wed 13 May |
Geography |
Paper 1 |
08:50 |
|
Wed 13 May |
Computer Science |
Paper 1 |
13:30 |
|
Thu 14 May |
Mathematics |
Paper 1 (Non‑Calculator) |
08:50 |
|
Fri 15 May |
History |
Paper 1 |
08:50 |
|
Mon 18 May |
Chemistry |
Paper 1 |
08:50 |
|
Mon 18 May |
Combined Science (Chemistry) |
Paper 1 |
08:50 |
|
Mon 18 May |
Media |
Paper 1 |
13:30 |
|
Tue 19 May |
English Literature |
Paper 2 |
08:50 |
|
Tue 19 May |
Computer Science |
Paper 2 |
13:30 |
|
Wed 20 May |
French |
Listening |
08:50 |
|
Wed 20 May |
Religious Studies |
Paper 2 |
13:30 |
|
Wed 20 May |
Geology |
Paper 2 |
13:30 |
|
Thu 21 May |
English Language |
Paper 1 |
08:50 |
|
Thu 21 May |
Business |
Paper 2 |
13:30 |
|
Tue 2 Jun |
Physics |
Paper 1 |
08:50 |
|
Tue 2 Jun |
Combined Science (Physics) |
Paper 1 |
08:50 |
|
Wed 3 Jun |
Mathematics |
Paper 2 (Calculator) |
08:50 |
|
Wed 3 Jun |
Geography |
Paper 2 |
13:30 |
|
Thu 4 Jun |
History |
Paper 2 |
08:50 |
|
Thu 4 Jun |
French |
Reading |
13:30 |
|
Fri 5 Jun |
English Language |
Paper 2 |
08:50 |
|
Fri 5 Jun |
Music |
Written paper |
13:30 |
|
Mon 8 Jun |
Biology |
Paper 2 |
08:50 |
|
Mon 8 Jun |
Combined Science (Biology) |
Paper 2 |
08:50 |
|
Mon 8 Jun |
French |
Writing |
13:30 |
|
Mon 8 Jun |
Further Mathematics |
Paper 1 |
13:30 |
|
Tue 9 Jun |
Spanish |
Listening |
08:50 |
|
Wed 10 Jun |
Mathematics |
Paper 3 (Calculator) |
08:50 |
|
Wed 10 Jun |
Product Design |
Written paper |
13:30 |
|
Thu 11 Jun |
Geography |
Paper 3 |
08:50 |
|
Thu 11 Jun |
Food |
Written paper |
13:30 |
|
Fri 12 Jun |
Chemistry |
Paper 2 |
08:50 |
|
Fri 12 Jun |
Combined Science (Chemistry) |
Paper 2 |
08:50 |
|
Mon 15 Jun |
Physics |
Paper 2 |
08:50 |
|
Mon 15 Jun |
Combined Science (Physics) |
Paper 2 |
08:50 |
|
Mon 15 Jun |
Further Mathematics |
Paper 2 |
13:30 |
|
Tue 16 Jun |
Spanish |
Writing |
08:50 |
Revision
As a parent, please encourage and support your child to get into a regular study routine at home. We recommend that our pupils’ study around one hour every day to prepare for their exams.
To help your child reach their potential in their GCSEs, we have created a GCSE Revision and Independent Study booklet. In this booklet, each subject area has put together a summary of what your child could do to support their own revision.
Information includes:
- How pupils are assessed in each subject
- What revision activities your child must be completing each week to prepare for their exams?
- What extra revision activities your child could be completing each week to prepare for their exams?
- How pupils can get help and support
Trial examinations
All Year 10 and 12 students will sit Trial Examinations in many of their subjects between
Wednesday 18th June and Wednesday 2nd July. Trial exams are really important for both students and teachers. They will identify strengths and areas to develop, which will be used to plan future lessons and interventions, to support your child fulfil their potential in their GCSE exams next year.
Trial Exams June 2026
GCSE Yr 10
| 22/06/2026 | 23/06/2026 | 24/06/2026 | 25/06/2026 | 26/06/2026 | |
| 08:50 | Geography 90 | Maths 1 90 | Food 90 | Business 90 | |
| 11:15 | English 105 | Religion 90 | Biology 105 | Chemistry 105 | |
| 13.3 | History 45 | ||||
| 29/6//26 | 30/06/2026 | 01/07/2026 | 02/07/2026 | 03/07/2026 | |
| 08:50 | Maths 2 90 | Computing 90 | French Reading 60 | ||
| Spain Reading 60 | |||||
| 11:15 | English Lit 105 | Physics 105 | French Writ 75 | ||
| Spain Writ 75 | |||||
| 13:30 | |||||
|
A-Level Yr 12 |
|||||
| 22/06/2026 | 23/06/2026 | 24/06/2026 | 25/06/2026 | 26/06/2026 | |
| 08:50 | Maths 1 90 | Biology 1 90 | Biology 2 90 | Chemistry 1 90 | Chemistry 2 90 |
| 11:15 | English 155 | Psycho 1 60 | Psycho 2 60 | Social 1 75 | Social 2 60 |
| 13:30 | |||||
| 29/6//26 | 30/06/2026 | 01/07/2026 | 02/07/2026 | 03/07/2026 | |
| 08:50 | Maths 2 90 | Physics 1 90 | Physics 2 90 | ||
| 11:15 | Eng Lit 180 | Geography 150 | History 90 | ||
| 13:30 |
Post-Results Services
Candidates requesting a Review of Results, or copy of their exam script need to provide written consent and full payment before requests can be processed. If a review of results is requested, then it is possible for marks to be lowered, remain the same or increase. This can lead to a lower overall grade, or the same grade or a higher grade.
Any enquiries about results for internal candidates have to be made to the exam board through the school.
Before any enquiry can be made, the candidate:
- has to seek agreement from the school that this is an appropriate action
- needs to sign a consent form
- pay the appropriate cost
The deadlines for Post-Results services are:
- Priority GCE (only where a university place is at risk): 21.08.26
- Priority GCSE: 04.09.26
- Non-priority: 25.09.26
The costs and consent form can be found here.
Requests, consent, and payment need to be with Mr C Morris (cmorris@purbeck.wessex.ac) before the school deadlines. Cheques made payable to Wessex Multi Academy Trust.
Resit examinations
Please read the information regarding retaking public examinations below.
It will be at the discretion of the Headteacher as to whether candidates will be able to retake exams at the Purbeck School.
Please read, complete and return this form to our Exams Officer cdaws@purbeck.wessex.ac.
Candidate exam and coursework information
Special consideration
If a student is taken ill before an examination, suffer bereavement or other trauma, be taken ill during the examination itself or otherwise disadvantaged or disturbed during an examination, then it is the student/parent/carer’s responsibility to alert the school, the Examinations Office, or the examination invigilator, to that effect.
The student must support any special consideration claim with appropriate evidence within three days of the examination, e.g. a letter from the student’s doctor.
The Examinations Officer will then forward a completed special consideration form to the relevant awarding body within seven days of the examination.
If an unforeseen event affects the running of an exam, e.g. a prolonged fire alarm or unexpected interruption; this instance should be reported to the Headteacher. It is the responsibility of the Exams Officer to apply for special consideration to the relevant exam board, in such an eventuality.
Exam policies
- Access Arrangements
- Access to Scripts, Reviews of Results and Appeals Procedures
- Alternative Rooming Arrangements Policy
- Candidate Absence Policy
- Candidate Late Arrival Policy
- Certificate Issue Procedure and Retention Policy
- Complaints Policy (Exams)
- Conflicts of Interest Policy (Exams)
- Emergency Evacuation Policy (Exams)
- Escalation Process
- Exam Contingency Plan
- Exams Archiving Policy
- Internal Appeals Procedure (Internal assessment decisions)
- Internal Appeals Procedure (Reviews of Results and Appeals)
- Leaving the Examination Room Policy
- Lockdown Policy (Exams)
- Malpractice Policy (Exams)
- Non-examination Assessment Policy
- Overnight Supervision Arrangements Policy
Internal appeals
Please see the following documents regarding disclosure of NEA/coursework marks before submission and rights to appeal.
- Internal Appeals procedure (internal assessment decisions)
- Internal Appeals form
- Internal Appeals procedure (reviews of results and appeals)
- Complaints (exams) policy
- Complaints form
A charge of £60 will be made to cover the cost of an internal appeal. This will be refunded in full if an appeal is upheld.
