Dates set for online exams

16 June 2020

West Midlands Police Federation chair Jon Nott has applauded moves to hold sergeants’ and inspectors’ exams online because of the pandemic.

Jon was responding to an announcement by the College of Policing which has confirmed the National Police Promotion Framework (NPPF) Inspectors’ and Sergeants’ Exams will take place in the autumn.

The exams were postponed earlier this year due to the coronavirus lockdown. They are now set to be run online to reduce the risk to officers and invigilators.

Jon said: “There is a lot of hard work put in and a lot of sacrifices made by officers in readiness for their exams, so to have that opportunity taken away from them because of the lockdown was tough.

“The pandemic has thrown up challenges right across policing, including the delivery of exams, so it’s really pleasing to see the College of Policing coming up with an online solution.

“This will allow people to be able to sit their exams and maintain everyone’s safety. I’m sure it will be welcomed by the officers involved.”

Dates identified for the Inspectors’ NPPF Step Two Legal Exam are Monday 12 and Wednesday 14 October.

Dates identified for the Sergeants’ NPPF Step Two Legal Exam are Monday 9 and Wednesday 11 November.

Mike Cunningham, chief executive at the College of Policing, said: “We will be working at pace in the coming months to put all necessary steps in place to move to online delivery for exams.

“Candidates will need to reserve all of these dates in the event we’re able to hold the exams on one day. We will advise of this as soon as we’re able to.

“In identifying a date for the rescheduled sergeants’ exam, we’ve considered the notice we need to provide to candidates for revision. We’ve also tried to identify a date that’s least likely to impact on planned leave or those with caring responsibilities.”

He said that the new system could mean that candidates receive their exam results earlier than usual.

“We will aim to have the results of the sergeants’ exam issued by the end of November,” he explained.

The NIE scheduled for 2020 will be held, as planned, on 8 September and 24 November.

The Direct Entry Superintendents’ Examination will also be held, as planned, on 17 November.

Read the College of Policing FAQs on the online exams