Ppl exams
 

Is it true that you only get 3 attempts at each exam and if you were to fail you have to then re sit the exam at gatwick

yes................... Or wait a fixed time period and the start again.

Correct - detail in Standards Document 11, para 2.10 et seq.

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/srg_lts_StdsDoc11_v9.pdf

ifitaint

...and the reason for this is that UK flight schools are being issued by the CAA with three sets of exam papers for each subject. Once you've attempted all three sets, and still failed, it would not be fair to give you the first set again.

In that case, the CAA will have to issue another set because under EASA rules you are allowed 4 attempts (or 6 sittings) before you have to start again. Mind you, since an individual may only attempt the exams on a recommendation by the ATO that trained him, one assumes that multiple failures might bring the ATO's standards under the spotlight as well.