Examinations

Access Arrangements

Access Arrangements allow candidates with additional learning needs, disabilities or temporary injuries to access assessment without changing the demands of the assessment. These are called reasonable adjustments and are required by the Awarding Bodies under The Equality Act of 2010.

Access Arrangements must be agreed with the Awarding Body in advance. For this to happen, the learner undergoes a series of assessments which are recognised by the Joint Council for Qualifications as being appropriate for this purpose. These will then show the most suitable form of access arrangement(s) to apply for. This usually takes place at the start of Year 10.

The school must also supply “evidence of need”. For example, teachers will keep copies of the work to show where extra time was used.

The adjustment must also be the learner’s “usual way of working” so if they have a word processor for the examination, they must have evidence of the work they do in class also being on a word processor.

Examples of Access Arrangements include:

·         additional time

·         reader

·         word processor

·         scribe

·         prompter

·         practical assistant

·         enlarged papers

·         modified papers

·         coloured papers

·         small/individual room

·         rest breaks

For many pupils, the use of access arrangements begins in Key Stage 3 where they access readers, word processor and extra time for example.

If you feel your child/young person falls under the EAA remit, please speak to the school.