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  • 27 Jun 2025

    Initial feedback from the summer exam series

    As the summer series has drawn to a close, we begin to analyse how examinations have been managed, administered and conducted over recent weeks.

    Although further information will emerge in the coming months, initial feedback suggests that, in general, the summer 2025 series seems to have gone very well with no major issues.

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  • 28 May 2025

    Key information for candidates and parents/carers

    This article highlights a range of exam-related areas and scenarios which may impact candidates and provides information which will ensure that any candidate and parental requests are reasonable and consider the regulations which centres must adhere to.

    Candidates and parents/carers should appreciate that JCQ regulations apply across thousands of centres which range in type (e.g. 11-16, 11-18, Further Education colleges, independent schools/colleges, Pupil Referral Units, Special Educational Needs centres, hospitals, prisons etc.).

    The head of centre is responsible for ensuring that all centre staff adhere to JCQ regulations in order to maintain the integrity and security of the examination system within their centre. 

    Please note that the term ‘centre’ refers to all educational establishments which are delivering qualifications from awarding bodies who are subject to JCQ regulations.

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  • 26 Apr 2025

    Preparing for a JCQ centre inspection

    As experienced exams officers are aware, a significant element of any summer exam series is the JCQ centre – or general – inspection.

    Although the JCQ inspector may focus upon, or ask to see, a range of areas and information, centres should undertake some preparation ahead of the summer series for this inspection(s).

    It should be noted that the inspection is an unannounced visit which is intended to check that examination arrangements for general and vocational examinations and assessments are being delivered in accordance with the regulations, and that centres may experience more than one inspection visit during the summer exam series.

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  • 21 Mar 2025

    Sharing examination information/results with third parties (including parents)

    Although the current focus is understandably upon the forthcoming exam series, senior leaders (with responsibility for examinations within their centre) and exams officers must also ensure that they are aware of the external regulations and internal arrangements relating to the sharing of examination results.

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  • 19 Feb 2025

    Exam contingency planning: Finding an alternative site

    In this article, we consider how senior leaders within centres can meet JCQ regulations which require a head of centre/senior leadership team to have a contingency plan in place to mitigate the impact of a series of events, in particular, the unavailability of their centre during an exam series.

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  • 29 Jan 2025

    Cyber security: Centre and staff responsibilities

    Amongst the most significant threats to the integrity and security of the examination system is that posed by organisations and individuals who want to obtain confidential examination materials for personal and/or financial gain via a cyber-attack.

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