Junior school summer examinations

As you will be aware, Years 8, 9 and 10 will sit their end of year examinations during the week commencing Tuesday 28^th May. A copy of your child’s exam timetable is attached on documents on this page. Students have received their own copy.

In order to facilitate the administration of the summer examinations, each year group will have a reading day at home as follows:

Y10: Wednesday 29^th May

Y9: Thursday 30^th May

Y8: Friday 31^st May

This will not affect the students’ attendance rate.

During the examination period there will no canteen facilities for junior school students at breaktime, as they will have a short morning break of 10 minutes between exams. Please make sure that your child brings a snack for morning break during the exam period. Canteen facilities will be offered as normal for lunchtime.

It is the responsibility of each student to have the right equipment for each exam. Two black pens to write with (one a spare), pencil, rubber and ruler are the basic essentials for every examination. Some exams may require further equipment (i.e. calculator for Maths, colour pencils etc). Students who are entitled to extra time also need a blue pen. Gel pens are not allowed.

The use of electronic equipment (mobile phones, iPads, smart watches etc) is not allowed at any time during the examination period. Students who have any electronic equipment with them will be required to leave it at the front of the examination room during each session.

Students are allowed to have water in a clear plastic bottle with them in the exam room, but no other drinks are permitted. Water bottles have all labels removed.

Normal rules of uniform and behaviour apply at all times.

Thank you and good luck everyone!

We would also like to inform you that as of June 2019 we plan to send all junior school reports via SIMS Parent App and therefore we will cease to send a paper copy of your child’s report by post unless you request otherwise. The move to a paperless reporting system will bring considerable cost savings for the College in terms of print and postage so we would encourage as many parents as possible to sign up for the SIMS Parent App.

Earlier in the year you should have received copies of the SIMS Parent App Parental Access Request Form and SIMS Parent App Acceptable Use Policy. If you returned these completed forms and are now using the app, you do not need to take any further action and will receive your child’s report electronically.

If you have yet to request access to SIMS Parent App, please complete forms sent home with your child and return to the school office by Wednesday 22^nd May to receive your unique username and password. We require both forms to be completed for your account to be activated and if both parents require access we need two signatures. Once we receive both forms you will be sent your unique username and password via email. Please check your junk mail regularly as this email may be sent to this inbox. The email will come from SIMS Parent App directly and not from a Strangford College email address.

In exceptional circumstances it will be possible for a paper copy of your child’s report to be sent to you. If you would prefer to receive a paper copy, please let us know by making a request in writing to the Principal.

Should you experience any difficulty signing up to SIMS Parent App, or if you have not received your username and password within a week of returning the forms to us, please let us know by contacting the school office.