Exams Information
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Exams Information 2025-26
The Y11 mock exams run for two weeks, beginning on the 1st December 2025. Before then, students will attend an exam briefing assembly where we explain how the exams are run. We aim to make these exams as similar as possible to the summer exams, in line with JCQ (Joint Council for Qualifications) regulations.
Students will be been given a paper copy of the Candidate Exam Information 2025-2026 booklet (this link is currently for the 2024-25 booklet which will be updated shortly) which should be read by both parents and pupils. It contains all you need to know about preparing for, and taking, exams and how you receive your results.
- Year 11 will sit mock exams from 1 to 12 December 2025. The timetable will be available soon and posted HERE. Mock results will be emailed to parents on 13 January 2026. The Key Stage 4 Report - Y11 Assessment Point 2, will be emailed to parents on 28 January 2026.
- Year 10 will sit written mock exams from 20th April to 1st May 2026. Their timetable will be available HERE in due course. Mock results will be emailed to parents along with The Key Stage 4 Report - Y10 Assessment Point 3 on 16 June 2026.
Summer 2026 GCSE Exams
Y11 GCSE 2026 Written Exams Timetable
GCSE exams are held from 7 May to 16 June 2026. However, all students must also be available for the National Contingency day of Wednesday 24 June 2026.
Students are entered for the exams in February 2026 when tiers of entry are finalised for Science, Maths and Languages.
A Statement of Entry will then be given to each student to check and ensure their details are correct.
Detailed personalised timetables will be issued by the school after Easter.
However, if you would like to generate your own timetable earlier, please see My Big Year. My Big Year is an external platform that provides a personalised exam timetable generator for students entering Year 11. You will need to know which exam boards we use for our subjects; a list is linked below. Please be aware that this is only an interim timetable and the personalised timetable issued by the school after Easter will be the final, official version to use.
Examination Boards - What exam boards do we use for our subjects? See list HERE
Exam Regulations
GCSE exams are regulated by JCQ and they require all students to have read and understood all of the documents in 1 and 2 below. Pupils will be asked to sign a declaration before the exams to say they have read and understood their responsibilities and obligations. Please pay particular attention to the mention of the use of AI for both coursework and non-examination assessments.
The following links and documents apply to both mock exams and the summer GCSE exams
- Thomas Keble - Candidate Exam Information 2025-2026 booklet
- JCQ documents can be found here - JCQ
- AI information poster for students - Here
- Ofqual Information – Coping with Exam Pressure
- Ofqual Information – Student Guide to Assessments
- Young Minds - Exam Stress
Exam Boards
AQA - https://www.aqa.org.uk/
OCR - https://www.ocr.org.uk/
Pearson (Edexcel) - https://support.pearson.com/uk/s/article/Support-for-Students-Parents-and-Carers#or
WJEC - https://www.wjec.co.uk/home/student-support/
Eduqas (part of WJEC) - https://www.wjec.co.uk/home/student-support/
It is the aim of Thomas Keble School to make the examination experience as stress-free and successful as possible for all candidates. If students or parents have any queries or need help or advice at any time before, during or after the exams please contact:
The Examinations Officer on Email: exams@thomaskeble.gloucs.sch.uk
Please DO NOT telephone exam boards directly; they will only refer you to the school
Exam Certificates for 2025 Exams
GCSE Certificates will be distributed to students on 19th November 2025 at the Y11 Leavers’ Certificate Evening.
To arrange collecting your certificates at any other time after the Certificate Evening, please email exams@thomaskeble.gloucs.sch.uk. We will provide them as soon as possible but ideally would prefer at least two working days' notice to action your request. Please include your full name, date of birth and a contact telephone number. Once confirmed, certificates will be available to collect from reception during school hours. Please bring current photo ID with you.
A friend or relative can collect certificates on your behalf, but we will require confirmation emailed from you, authorising a named person to collect them. The person collecting the certificates must bring a form of their current photo ID with them.
We can usually only keep uncollected certificates for a year. Please email exams@thomaskeble.gloucs.sch.uk to check if we still have them. Duplicates must be purchased directly from the exam boards at a cost of about £40 per certificate. More information can be found at www.gov.uk/replacement-exam-certificate. You may need to quote the centre number - this is 57015.