The Sciences

Choosing the right subjects for GCSE House Life

DRESS AND UNIFORM

Your son/daughter will make initial GCSE choices in February so that next year’s timetable can be blocked All information about uniform and dress guidelines can be found in the College’s uniform and and staffing planned. They will confirm their choices at equipment guide. the end of this term. There is the opportunity to add any supporting comments on both initial and final Here are some key points: option-choice forms if you feel particularly strongly about the choices that have been made. Once the final You should wear your uniform from 7.45 am until the end of the working day. options form is submitted, the allocation of options will be made based on the information supplied on You should wear College games kit for all sports and activities. the form. You may only attend lessons in casual clothes or in games kit if you have a specific reason , even then, Once choices have been made, the College reserves only with the permission of the person in charge of the outing or the teacher concerned. the right to withdraw any courses for which there is insufficient demand. Dress for outings and events will often be ‘smart casual’ - you need to make sure you have suitable We try to accommodate all subject choices within clothing in school for just such events. jeans or ripped trousers will not be considered smart casual! the prescribed framework. However, subjects are sometimes oversubscribed and availability of staffing You must not go to tea in your games kit, although you may put your tracksuit on over it and wear prevents additional classes. If this is the case, we will clean trainers if you are in a rush. contact you to discuss alternatives. On the following pages, you will find more information DUTIES about each subject, as well as some useful advice from the Head of Careers and Higher Education, Sharon 3rd Form Washing up cups. Newspaper and milk collection

Allmark. These will help you when weighing up the various factors involved in making the most 4th Form Tidying House kitchen and load the dishwasher nightly (on a weekly rota) appropriate choices.5th Form Tidying Quiet Room and TV Room and unpack the dishwasher in the morning (on a weekly rota)

Stephen Badger

Deputy Head (Teaching & Learning)

Sixth Form Supervising prep and bedtimes (7-10pm on a rota)

GUIDING PARENTS You will occasionally be asked to show prospective parents around the school. When you are asked to do this, make sure you excuse yourself from any lessons being missed in good time. You should wear your best uniform; shoes must be clean and your hair neat and tidy.

GCSE Reforms House Life

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

• All GCSE subjects are now graded and assessed using the new 9-1 structure; • 9 is the highest grade, awarded to the very best candidates in the subject. The official definition of a grade-9 candidate is that they will be ‘in the top 20% of those achieving grades 7-9 in the subject’; • In every subject, the content is more demanding and the assessment more rigorous than previously; • The assessment will be mainly by exam. In some subjects such as Drama and Art, other types of assessment will be used only where they are needed to test essential skills. For further information about assessment, please speak to the relevant Head of Department. Tiering of exams The new GCSEs are only split into foundation tier and higher tier if one single exam paper does not give all students the opportunity to show their knowledge and abilities. Consequently, exams are tiered in Biology, Chemistry, French, German, Maths, Physics and Spanish. New grading structure

Health and safety in a boarding house is extremely important and therefore you really must follow the instructions which come from the College’s Health & Safety Committee. Please read the full guidelines which can be found in the College rules at the back of this booklet. Main points are: • Always switch all appliances off when you are not in your room. • In dorms only one item may be plugged into each wall socket. • In single rooms a power extension block can be used with no more than four outlets. • Hair dryers and straighteners must be plugged directly into a wall socket—they should never be left switched on or on a hard surface, your bed or the floor. You may not bring in your own kettles, toasters or TVs however you may bring computers, ipods, shavers and hair equipment. Current grading structure

9 is awarded to those pupils achieving what would currently be a top A*: perhaps at around 96%+ Schools are no longer assessed on A*-C statistics, but on ‘9-4’ statistics.

FIRE PROCEDURE FIRE If you discover a fire:

Under the updated • Inform a member of staff immediately structure, the ‘good pass’ for Maths and • English is a 5, which is If it is not safe to reach a member of staff, raise the alarm by shouting ‘FIRE’ or if you are near a red alarm box, break the glass and sound the alarm. on the border between a C and a B under the • Do not try to put out the fire yourself! old system.

9 A* 8 7 A 6 B 5 4 C 3 D 2 E F 1 G U U

GOOD PASS (DfE) 5 and above = top of C and above AWARDING 4 and above = bottom of C and above

WHEN YOU HEAR THE FIRE ALARM • Stop what you are doing immediately • Leave the house quickly and quietly by the nearest fire exit and go to the assembly point which is outside Sutton Cottage opposite the coded entrance.

Choosing the right subjects for GCSE House Life

• Do not stop or go back for any personal belongings

• Shut all windows and doors behind you as you exit.

• At night put on dressing gown and shoes; do not stop to dress fully; ensure that others in your dorm are awake.

Your son/daughter will make initial GCSE choices in

February so that next year’s timetable can be blocked and staffing planned. They will confirm their choices at the end of this term. There is the opportunity to add any supporting comments on both initial and final • option-choice forms if you feel particularly strongly Please ensure you know where your fire exits and assembly point(s) are. about the choices that have been made. Once the final • options form is submitted, the allocation of options You should line up in SILENCE in alphabetical order in your year groups. A roll call will be taken will be made based on the information supplied on and you should stay there to await further instructions from the member of staff present. the form. • Once choices have been made, the College reserves Do not re-enter the House until told to do so by the member of staff present. the right to withdraw any courses for which there is Formal fire drills are carried out at least twice a term. insufficient demand.

We try to accommodate all subject choices within the prescribed framework. However, subjects are FOOD AND KITCHENS sometimes oversubscribed and availability of staffing • prevents additional classes. If this is the case, we will The kitchen facilities in house are not provided as an alternative to attending meals. Only 6th contact you to discuss alternatives. formers are allowed to have breakfast in house during the week. • On the following pages, you will find more information Milk, bread, spreads, fruit, and squashes are provided in the house daily—check with Matron for about each subject, as well as some useful advice from the times when these are available. the Head of Careers and Higher Education, Sharon • Allmark. These will help you when weighing up the Please do not bring in large quantities of food from home — particularly perishable products. various factors involved in making the most • appropriate choices. You may bring tuck in however you must either keep it in your own secure tuck box. If you put something in the fridge do not forget to name it! But space is limited. • Follow instructions when using the microwave and be careful as food and drinks can get very hot. • Stephen Badger Toasters are for toasting bread only—please don’t try and cook anything else in them!

Deputy Head (Teaching & Learning) WE ARE A NUT FREE SCHOOL. PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANYTHING CONTAINING NUTS ONTO THE LWC CAMPUS OR INTO BOARDING HOUSES.

GCSE Reforms House Life

GAMES AND ACTIVITIES

• All GCSE subjects are now graded and assessed using the new 9-1 structure; • 9 is the highest grade, awarded to the very best candidates in the subject. The official definition of a grade-9 IN SCHOOL candidate is that they will be ‘in the top 20% of those achieving grades 7-9 in the subject’; You should attend all school games and activity sessions as these are part of your official timetable. • In every subject, the content is more demanding and the assessment more rigorous than previously; • The assessment will be mainly by exam. In some subjects such as Drama and Art, other types of assessment will Unless your teacher tells you otherwise, you must wear college sports kit for all games and activities. be used only where they are needed to test essential skills. For further information about assessment, please speak to the relevant Head of Department. If you are selected to play the major sport of the term or represent the College in a team then you must fulfil your commitment. Tiering of exams The new GCSEs are only split into foundation tier and higher tier if one single exam paper does not give all students IN THE HOUSE the opportunity to show their knowledge and abilities. Consequently, exams are tiered in Biology, Chemistry, French, German, Maths, Physics and Spanish. The house has lots of facilities: piano, table tennis, pool table, board games, etc. for use in your free time. Please make sure you look after these so that everyone can enjoy them.

HAIR

New grading structure

Current grading structure

9 A* 8 7 A 6 5 4 C 3 D 2 E F 1 G U U

9 is awarded to those pupils achieving what would currently be a top A*: perhaps at around 96%+

GOOD PASS (DfE) 5 and above = top of C and above Schools are no longer AWARDING assessed on A*-C 4 and above = bottom of C and above statistics, but on ‘9-4’ statistics.

Your hair should be kept neat and tidy. It should be natural in colour—any highlights should be subtle in nature and professionally done. Your hairstyle should not exhibit any extremes of fashion. HOUSE COUNCIL Under the updated structure, the ‘good The idea of the House Council is that you can input the House routines, make suggestions for House B events or facilities and prompt changes for the better regarding school rules. pass’ for Maths and English is a 5, which is on the border between The Council meets twice a term. It consists of one or two pupils per year group. You will vote for your a C and a B under the year group representative(s) at the start of term. The Council is chaired by the Head of House. old system. The minutes are submitted to your Houseparent whose responses will be published on the House notice board. Items regarding the College in general will be brought up by the Head of House when the prefects have lunch with the Headmaster. You may also use the suggestion box if you have any good suggestions or concerns.