External assessment is an integral part of the British educational system. It is the evaluation of pupils' levels of attainment by a body independent of the school.

In broad terms, assessment in our educational system is conducted along the following guidelines:

1. End of Key Stage tests at the end of Years 2, 6 an 9
2. General Certificate of Secondary Education at the end of Year 11. Pupils take public (external) exams in the subjects they have studied in Years 10 and 11. The exams taken at Runnymede College are administered, set and corrected by the following examining boards: EDEXCEL and UCLES.
3. Major changes were made to post-16 education with effect from September 2000. Curriculum 2000 was introduced with a view to broadening the curriculum in Years 12 and 13.

When pupils have taken both an AS and an A2 in a subject they are awarded an A level. The majority of traditional British Universities require pupils to have three good A levels. Some also require them to have passed an AS in a fourth subject. Since September 2000 Runnymede has followed Edexcel specifications in all subjects except Latin which follows the AQA specification.

The minimum requirements to be able to apply to a British University are five GCSEs and two A levels. However, since admission to university is highly competitive, those who are accepted usually have at least seven or eight GCSEs and three A levels with good grades (i.e. A, B or C).

In GCSE, grades A*, A, B and C are the grades accepted as passes by the universities. A peculiarity of the IGCSE system is that candidates may take the examinations at two different levels. If they take the higher level (known as extended), they may be awarded A*, A, B, C, D or E. If they take the lower level (known as the core), they may be awarded C, D, E, F, G, or U. At Runnymede most pupils will attempt the extended level unless teachers believe that it would deprive them of a chance to gain a C.

Before pupils decide which subjects they want to take at A level, they should decide what they want to study at University and know what the requirements are at the University they might want to go to. Apart from the general requirements of so many IGCSEs and A levels, some Departments and Faculties require certain subjects to be studied to A level, and some, especially Maths, at IGCSE. Details of these requirements can be obtained for consultation in the School Office.

Spanish Validation

The Spanish authorities recognize British studies whether carried out in Britain or in an authorized British school in Spain, (such as Runnymede). Passing four IGCSEs is regarded as the equivalent of the 4th year of E.S.O., provided that the pupil has attended an authorized British school for two years (Years 10 and 11). Year 12 is regarded as the equivalent of the 1st year of Bachillerato if the pupil has passed five or more GCSEs and attended Year 12. A pupil who has passed at least two A levels as well, will have theses studies validated for the 2nd year of Bachillerato.