The following request was sent to headteachers and principals (and copied to examinations officers) in a letter from John Kerr, Edexcel's Chief Executive, on 8th February 2002:
Summer 2002 Examination/ Test Session
We need your co-operation with regard to the prompt submission of entries for the Summer 2002 Examination/Test Session.
As you know, we have been reviewing Edexcel's performance in the Summer 2001 examination session with the QCA. During the review, it has become apparent that the large number of late entries has contributed significantly to our inability to provide a high level of customer service. We need to receive entries by the published deadlines to enable us to carry out a number of key processes and activities. These include:
- Entering all the details on to our computer system (unless you used our electronic data interface)
- Checking every entry for accuracy
- Dealing with and correcting any discrepancies and errors
- Sending statements of your entries
- Allocating examiners and moderators
- Organising and sending out examination documentation (e.g. labels etc.)
- Sending out examination question papers.
Late enries delay the completion of these activities. This causes problems for the processing of results for all centres.
The key dates that you and your team need to work to are detailed below.
(NB: these dates override any that differ in the previously-published Information Manual):
GCSE Entries Entry Deadline 21 February 2002 Final Entry Deadline 8 March 2002 Late entry fee Double Subject Fee GNVQ/ VCE Portfolio Entries Entry Deadline 28 February 2002 Final Entry Deadline 15 March 2002 Additional Entry Fee £9 Per Unit GCE Entries Entry Deadline 21 March 2002 Final Entry Deadline 5 April 2002 Late Entry Fee Double Subject Fee GNVQ/ VCE Test Entries Entry Deadline 21 March 2002 Final Entry Deadline 5 April 2002 Additional Entry Fee £9 Per Unit
What these dates will mean for you:
- We would expect to receive entries by the entry deadline
- If due to unforeseen circumstances entries are not received until the Final Entry Deadline, your centre will incur no additional costs - the normal fees/charges will apply
- If Edexcel receives your entries after the Final Entry Deadline, then an additional fee will be imposed (see above tables) and Edexcel will not guarantee that the results will be available on the published due dates for results
- In the event that no entry is received, but a script is forwarded to Edexcel in the hope that it will be processed, we will charge a significant additional fee and the script will be processed after all the other entries have been processed and finalised. In such cases Edexcel will not guarantee to deliver the results by the published date.
This change in late entry dates is intended to help Edexcel improve its service to students and centres. We do appreciate that the vast majority of centres supply their entries on time, but the number of late entries is increasing and this has had a negative effect on all centres.
We would be grateful if you could ensure that appropriate staff at your centre are fully aware of these changes.
