Benbridge Academy teachers will guide students and families through
straightforward processes to ensure that all practical elements are covered and
assessed in partnership with agreed examiners and examination centres.

• Art portfolios can be developed at home and submitted to the examination board through the agreed examination centre. Art practical examinations will take place at the same examination centre.
  
  
• All of the same applies to Science. While assessment pieces can be composed and recorded independently but listening examinations will need to take place in an examination centre.
  
  
• Regarding Science subjects, we will guide students towards the the non-practical assessment routes while ensuring that our online provision caters for multiple virtual practical experiments.

• An Examination Centre is a school or college with examination centre accreditation. Local authorities provide support for families seeking the best option for their children to take examinations. Benbridge Academy will provide support and guidance related to convenient examination centres and ensure that the registration process is achieved smoothly and within the correct time frame.

• An external student taking examinations in an examination centre is referred to as a private candidate and afforded the same careful attention as internal candidates. External students’ attendance documentation is included with all other students and sent to the examination board along with their completed examination scripts.

• All accredited examination centres cater for SEND students and ensure that access arrangements are in place accordingly.

• Access arrangements are support measures provided by examination centres and schools to enable inclusion in the assessment process for students with specific educational needs, disabilities and temporary medical conditions. Support includes the use of readers, scribes, adjusted scripts (e.g. braille), rest breaks and alternative provision for those with misophonia. Access arrangements often afford SEND students additional time.
  
  
• Examination centres make applications based upon documented diagnoses within a regulated timeframe. Benbridge Academy will provide all necessary guidance, advice and support to enable students to receive necessary access arrangements.

This is often cited as one of the drawbacks of online education. However, this is not the case. Our young people exist in a world that is very different from that of their parents and grandparents. Online communication is the norm for our children and that includes the formulation of friendships and effective, collaborative learning. Further to this, at Benbridge Academy, as well as nurturing online social areas for our students, we look forward to offering our students opportunities to attend live events and field trips. The warmth and approachability of our highly trained and experienced teachers ensure the best opportunities for all in a safe environment, free from the limitations of traditional peer pressure.

The Department for Education has developed a non-statutory scheme to accredit providers of full-time online education that meet the standards for online education provision (‘the standards’). The scheme is called the online education accreditation scheme (‘’OEAS’). Although it is not compulsory, Benbridge Academy is in the process of gaining full accreditation.

All you require is a good internet connection, a laptop computer or tablet, preferably with a keyboard attachment. Your device should include a camera and speakers to aid live communication. All learning materials and apps are provided.

As a school that follows the National Curriculum guidance and Pearson Edexcel and Cambridge examination boards, all grading schemes and mark schemes are in line with official recommendations. At Benbridge Academy, students’ grades are in line with national and international standards to ensure that our families are fully aware of their children’s progress, areas for development and accurately assessed successes. However, we believe that today’s improvement can only be measured against what we achieved as individuals yesterday. Assessed work is graded by our teachers and returned with EBI (Even Better If) comments to ensure that all marking is ‘formative’. All grades are centrally collated by the school leadership who use this data to inform strategies for improvement.

Please check the admissions page for relevant dates and points of entry. You are welcome to request a call back, if you would like a discussion or have any questions; alternatively please complete the enquiry form for further information. If you have made the decision that Benbridge Academy is the best choice for your child, please complete the online application form to begin the process of admission.