All,

We're coming once again to the examination season, wherein a large proportion of our membership will be sitting GCSEs, A-Levels, or other important exams. The first examination on the JCQ common timetable is on Monday 13th May (though Wales starts slightly earlier on Tuesday 7th May). The examination period stretches to Thursday 20th June for GCSEs, and to Tuesday 25th June for A-Levels.

This period (and the time preceding it, from around now) will likely see large numbers of students, mentors, and staff wishing to take a few weeks away from VATSIM. Because of the numbers involved, we've determined a 'common framework' that both the ATC and Pilots teams will follow, hopefully making things run more smoothly.

If you are not taking exams this year, the below will not affect you - please continue 'as normal', with the awareness that mentoring/administration may be slower than usual.

If you are taking exams this year...

...and hold a current S2, S3, C1, or Heathrow training place: please let your TG staff know that you are taking exams this year. From when you let them know, there will be no expectation on you to maintain availability/a session request until Sunday 30th June (giving time for those of you who intend to spend the week after exams celebrating). Your place will be retained, so you will be able to restart training immediately - you will not be required to defer your place. You will be sent a reminder after that point, with the usual notice period of five days before being deemed inactive.

If you wish to restart before Sunday 30th June, simply add availability and a session request.

If you require time after the end of June (e.g. due to a university exam timetable which extends beyond the aforementioned period, post-exam placements, holidays, etc.), please let your TG staff know how long you'll need - it will be up to their discretion whether to maintain or defer your place.

...and are on a waiting list: depending on capacity, TG staff may still offer training places. However, from now until Sunday 30th June, you will not be removed from a waiting list if you do not respond to their ticket.

...and are a mentor: TGIs in TG1 and TG2 will conduct a quick 'poll' in the upcoming mentors' meetings to get a rough idea on the capacity they can expect during the public examination period. Please do let them know if you are taking exams, as this will help them to decide how many students to accept. FIs in the Pilots' team have already completed this.

Finally, all the very best for whatever exams you may be taking!