Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ was originally written for the initial release of the KS4 Exam Results imports and has been added to since. 

If we are not collecting Exam Board (EDI) results files for all pupils but just CLA exam results can we use Nexus?

Yes, there is a CLA specific import template available for Children Looked After at the end of KS4.

Are we expecting to get any KS4 data other than exam results in 2023?

Yes, we expect to receive the files as in a normal year as part of the checking process and then with other updates of results later in the year, but the KS4 Exam Results / CLA exam results option in Nexus will support the earliest view of results available to the LA

How often will Progress 8 be calculated in Nexus?

Progress 8 will be refreshed at regular intervals throughout the day, around exam results day we will aim to refresh at 07:00 / 13:00 / 19:00.

Where do schools get Exam Board (EDI) results files?

Most EDI files will come directly from exam boards via the A2C system and are imported into the schools MIS by a member of staff.

Are the KS4 files called a “results file” rather than an “exam board file”?

The files you will be collecting from your schools are called results files.

What is the naming convention of a results file?

An example file might be named R1813970.x69 -  R=Results File / 70=Awarding Body AQA

What is a base data file schools have mentioned or given to the LA - are these base data files also necessary to request from schools to load into Nexus?

Base data files are used for schools to make exam entries and you do not need to request these files from schools, they will already have been added to the system by Angel Solutions.

How many exam board files would an LA expect to receive from an average secondary school - one per exam body?

You would expect to receive one results file per exam series for each exam board used by the school.

Do all exam boards provide the same file format?

Most exam related data is transferred using the EDI format, there may be some results that a school does not receive in this format. If you receive these results from a school and want to include them in your analysis, you can import them using the CSV template we have provided once the results have been added into a spreadsheet that can export that CSV file.

Do schools need to do anything to these files before sending to LA – e.g. renaming?

No, files should not be renamed, they should be sent as they are.

Does the LA need to do anything to the files before uploading into Nexus?

No, just zip the files up before importing to save yourself some time.

Will there be any checking routines run on the KS4 files on import?

We will be validating the structure of the files on import, and then matching the pupils contained within the files to your imported spring census.

Will there be any error reports for the KS4 files?

There will be KS4 checking grids in Keypas so you can see and edit the data that has been imported.

Will last year’s results file data for (2020/21 cohort) also need to be requested in EDI format?

If you can get hold of previous year result files, then you should also import these into Nexus. This data will be used for discounting purposes if a pupil took exams early.

Would an LA load in all exam files from last year and Keypas will only select the 2021/22 pupil cohort?

Yes, we will determine who the end of KS4 cohort is and ignore data from other pupils, such as a year 10 pupil who took a qualification early.

Will exports be a row per exam results for each pupil rather than one row per pupil?

There will be multiple types of export, one row per exam result will be an export you can get from Nexus.

What is the difference between first result and second result on the csv import template?

First result and second result are defined by the JCQ formats document but in reality you should find that only the first result need be populated, even in the case of combined science GCSE, both grades will be populated in the first result, e.g. 33 or 34.

How is End of Key Stage 4 cohort identified – will there may be a fair bit of checking to do on the data submitted to make sure schools are happy with that cohort?

It is definitely advisable to check with schools to get their opinion on the who should be in the end of key stage 4 cohort

I think our schools may object to their data being shared with other LAs – does that mean we can’t do the KS4 import if that’s the case?

No, there are very few instances where a pupil would be matched to another LA in an exam year as they would have had to move to a school in another LA in the period from January to summer exam season.

End of KS4 pupils grid – will this include KS2 prior attainment for Progress 8 calculation?

Prior attainment and progress 8 will be part of a pupil export grid, and there will be an opportunity to import prior attainment for pupils where it is missing.

End of KS4 pupils grid – will there be a flag to show which group a pupil falls into (ie NCY11, Age 15 but not NCY11, Not age 15 or NCY11 but have exam data)?

Yes, you will be able to identify the pupils in this way on this grid.

Are you collecting exclusion data when we load our census?  Just a thought that you could automatically exclude pupils admitted as a result of permanent exclusion?

We are collecting exclusion data for planned developments in Nexus, we won't be using the data in this way initially but we will definitely consider it for future development.

Will there be a pupil export with flags for headline measure / school level overall summary?

You can get a pupil level export from Keypas any aggregated data such as school or LA you can get from Insight Tables.

What do we do if a school qualification – eg BTEC -  does not have EDI files?

If a qualification doesn't have an EDI file you can import it using the CSV import described here, you only really need to consider importing those extra qualifications that are include in performance tables, see our article here to access the relevant DfE guidance.