Private Candidate
Exam Centre
We are an approved Private Candidate Exam Centre and Learning Provider with our own, in-house teaching and assessment team and facilities, located in Durham, North East England, just off the A1. We’re registering Private Exam candidates for Autumn 2024 and Summer 2025. We’re truly independent, so are able to work with the widest selection of learning providers available in the UK. We’re caring and supportive every step of the way and perfect for those learning outside a mainstream setting.
We work with you on an individual basis and operate our own, ‘person before profit’ philosophy, which makes us stand out in the sector.
About us
Qualifications
GCSEs, iGCSEs, AS & A Level,
Functional Skills (paper & online)
Subjects
Almost all subjects possible.
Enquire for more information.
Exam Boards
AQA, Edexcel, CAIE, OCR, WJEC/Eduqas
Arts Award, Trinity and more.
Services
Exams, tutoring, mocks, marking,
Oxford tests, UCAS. Enquire for info.
Now registering private candidates for Autumn 2024 and Summer 2025
Feedback 2024
“Thank you for all your guidance, help and support during exam season. You have been very helpful.”
“Your support has been a massive psychological comfort during a very difficult time. I would like to publicly acknowledge the brilliant service I have received from you and your company.“
“I have been extremely impressed with the exam centre staff and set up and I will highly recommend your services in the future.“
Don’t leave your future to chance. Talk to us.
We are one of the very few private candidate exam centres in the UK approved to offer hundreds of subjects and examinations across the academic, vocational and artistic spheres. This includes GCSEs, iGCSEs, AS and A Levels, Functional Skills, Arts Award, LAMDA, Trinity exam boards and more.
We are also an approved UCAS registered centre an approved University of Oxford Open Centre for admissions tests.
We offer the AQA Unit Award Scheme (for SEND learners) providing learners with an engaging and inclusive way to acquire accreditation. This scheme is comprehensive, appropriately considerate and challenging, adaptable and provides flexibility for the learner.
So, whatever your interests at whatever level, you can be assured that you’re in the best hands to achieve your goals.
Years Established
Learners Supported
UNIQUE
Private Exams North East is unique in having an internal, qualified team for private candidates. This means you can simply sit your exam with us or we can teach, assess and examine you, giving you assurances that we can continue to support you under unexpected circumstances, such as the recent pandemic.
SPECIALIST
As well as being an approved academic private candidate exam centre and learning provider, we are also an award-winning creative and cultural hub. Our specialist internal creative team offers private exam candidates an array of creative subjects: GCSE Art, GCSE Drama, GCSE Dance, BTECs Levels 1 – 3, Arts Awards and creative vocational qualifications.
EXPERIENCED
Our depth of knowledge and breadth of national and international experience underpins your own programmes of learning.
This supports private candidates’ creative and GCSE, A level, IGCSE or other academic ambitions.
INNOVATIVE
With Private Exams North East, private exam candidates can access many academic subjects previously unavailable to them due to course work requirements, or NEA assessments. For example, we recently supported GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition, Spoken Language Endorsements for English, Modern Foreign Languages and more.
Did you know?
No matter how you study, you’re entitled to choose your preferred private candidate exam centre.
Since our inception in 2012, Private Exams North East has developed a strong reputation for being one of the most caring and responsive exam centres in the UK.
We specialise in supporting private candidates who are being educated within and outside mainstream settings.
Whether you are sitting your exam for the first time, resitting, or changing career, we are your one-stop, North East-based private exam centre.
When choosing your distance learning provider, always remember – the choice of exam centre is yours!
We work with the home educated, independent learners, self-studying students, distance learning providers, tutors, local education authorities, CAHMS, Children’s Services, schools, universities, Pupil Referral Units, Academies, commercial partners, UCAS and a wide range of care facilities and hospitals.
Planning your studies?
Download our study planner.
Mock Exams
In addition to the final examinations, we also run mock exams throughout the year. This is an opportunity to work directly with experienced professionals and an approved exam centre to build up your viable evidence of study. We always mark all exams. This gives candidates the full examination experience, helping to adequately prepare and plan for and address areas for improvement.
Mock Exams
Mock exams can be taken in our exam centre or online in our bespoke exam system, whichever suits the candidate.
Opportunities
As well as being great for your learning portfolio, it is a great opportunity for private exam candidates to relieve some of the anxiety associated with sitting exams.
Trained and Qualified
Our experienced and qualified invigilators, exam staff and assessors provide feedback on performance during the mock exam to help get the most out of the exam experience.
Our invigilators, exam staff and assessors will provide feedback on performance during the mock exam and hints, tricks and techniques for getting the most out of the exam experience.
End of Unit Tests
We also offer an open service of end of unit tests. This is open to any private candidate whether they are studying with us or not and whether they are taking an exam with us or not.
These end of unit tests are perfect for testing subject knowledge and understanding of specific topics.
End of unit tests can be integrated into formative assessments and not just as summative tests such as mocks.