General Information including Co-curricular & Saturdays
LIFE AT LWC
Welcome from the Headmaster
This handbook has been collated by the Admissions Department, who have a great deal of experience of helping families new to the school find their feet. I hope that reading through this will excite you for the journey ahead.
LWC is a friendly, supportive and ambitious community. You can feel confident that we will keep you abreast of all you need or want to know over the coming months and years. There is some risk of parents feeling overwhelmed at the start of a child’s career in a new school; however please don’t be. We are here and would be delighted to answer any questions that you may have at any time.
Having now been in post for nine years, I remain thrilled to be a part of this wonderful and inspirational school, where Pupil Voice and Character Education are at the very heart of what we do.
I still remember the first morning I met with our College prefects, who sat with nervous anticipation awaiting pearls of wisdom from their Headmaster. To their great disappointment, I asked only one question as to what made their school unique. Within minutes, these charming, articulate and highly passionate individuals had set out their vision for the years ahead. It is a vision that is now clearly articulated, planned for and is transforming the campus, but placing the
growth of people and culture at the heart of things. We are hugely excited by this.
As we look onwards, the legacy of their aspirations and actions are in place, with pupil-led films, exciting building designs, Project 2030, our outdoor learning spaces, appraisals of teachers and campus master-planning to name but a few. Equally important, they have embedded a culture of openness, shared values and an ethos of ‘can do, will do’ which is truly inspiring - a culture which has led to national awards and professional body recognition.
With that in mind, our staff and pupils are looking forward to welcoming you into our community as you and your children begin your adventure.
I hope you have a very long and happy association with this remarkable school.
Adam Williams Headmaster
Finding your way around our 1200 acre campus can be daunting in the first few weeks, everyone gets lost at least once! The best place to start if you do need help is your child’s House – Matrons and pupils are always happy to point you in the right direction.
General Information
Term dates for the Academic Year September 2024/2025
The first day of term is Thursday 5th September. However, for new pupils we hold an induction afternoon on Wednesday 4th September. We break up for Christmas on Friday 13th December, at midday.
A full list of term dates can be found here.
Communication with Parents
All letters, notices and information of a non-sensitive nature are sent to parents via email as we find this the most efficient, cost effective and environmentally friendly way of sharing information. We send an electronic weekly bulletin and Houseparents send a weekly newsletter over the weekend. Additionally, information is posted on MySchoolPortal.
All general communications are sent directly to your email address(es). Consequently, it is vital that you inform us of any changes to these.
Pupils’ academic and AtoL (Attitude to Learning) reports are accessed via MySchoolPortal and invoices are sent via email.
Contacting Houseparents
Houseparents are usually the first port of call for any questions regarding your child. You can contact them by email or telephone. Addresses and numbers are on the website. Unless it is an emergency, the hours to call Houseparents are after 7.30am and before 10pm. Matrons are also a good point of contact and are in the boarding houses from 8am to 9pm every weekday, and from 8am to 6pm on Saturdays.
You will appreciate that Houseparents teach and take part in co-curricular activities, so may not always be at the end of the phone, but if you leave a message they will contact you as soon as they can.
Transport - Bus Services/Lift Share Scheme/International Travel
Bus Services
We offer a comprehensive range of routes in the morning and, in addition, run an evening bus to Winchester and Alresford. On Saturdays, there is a midday bus to Hook train station and we collect from Basingstoke station on Sunday evenings at 8pm.
To book a bus place, please visit: http:// lordwandsworth.vectare.co.uk where you will find details of timings and costs for all routes. All bus charges will be added to your child’s termly fee bill.
We also offer a weekend bus service toand-from Basingstoke Station. Places on this bus should be booked in advance via the College Office.
Lift Share Scheme
The College operates a parent lift share scheme. This allows parents to log their details for inclusion on the Lift Share Register, which is then circulated to everyone on the scheme enabling parents to contact others coming from the same area. Further details are available from the College Office.
International Travel
We are happy to arrange travel to and from airports for students who live overseas. Please contact Matrons for information about this.
Daily Routines
Arrival and Registration
1st and 2nd Form
Day pupils may be dropped off at Junior House or at the main school The latest drop off at Junior is 8.15am, although pupils are welcome from 7.15am and may have breakfast with boarders, which is at 7.30am in Junior House. Pupils being dropped at the main school, either in the main car park or the drop off point at the top of the main drive, should arrive at 8.30am and register in Hendersons, the Junior House Hub in the centre of the main school.
Saturday morning registration is at 9am at Junior House, or for day pupils being dropped off at main school, in Hendersons, with activities starting at 9.30am.
3rd to Sixth Form
Morning registration for boarders and day pupils takes place in each House between 7.30 and 8.20am. All pupils in 3rd Form and above need to be in their respective boarding house no later than 8.15am. At registration, pupils should be ready for the day ahead and correctly dressed in College uniform. Pupils arriving late for school should report to their House Matron.
Day pupils may have breakfast in school (at no extra charge), which is served from 7.30am in Julyans.
All pupils who are attending Saturday morning activities must register in House by 9.15am prior to their activity.
Prep
Prep (homework) happens every weekday evening; prep is set by subject teachers on a rota so that no pupil should be completing more than three preps for different subjects in any one prep session. Prep is supervised in the boarding houses by the Duty Tutor and House Prefects. Day pupils are welcome to stay and do their prep at school, but if they choose to go home, should complete prep at home.
Bedtimes
During the working week bedtime and ‘lights out’ are as follows:
1st Form 9.00 pm 9.15 pm
2nd Form 9.00 pm 9.15 pm
3rd Form 9.30 pm 9.45 pm
4th Form 9.45 pm 10.00 pm
5th Form 10.00 pm 10.15 pm
Sixth Form from 10.30pm
Departure
During the week, day pupils can be picked up at 4pm or after their co-curricular activities, whichever is later. Please be aware that pick up times may vary each day depending on the sport/activity your child is involved in. Parents and guardians can use SOCS to find out their child’s activity programme and whether they have been selected for fixtures. If in doubt, please liaise with Matrons.
• Pupils involved in school matches
are free to leave either once an away match has finished, or once the pupils have returned to school. Parents may take their child home from away fixtures provided that they have informed the team coach that they are doing so and have called the boarding house to inform Matron.
• Pupils not participating in a match on Saturday are free to go home after their Saturday morning activity or sports training has finished (whichever comes later).
• Day pupils may stay for tea and supervised prep (at no extra charge).
• Parents of pupils in Junior House are requested to collect children from inside the House as the children are not allowed to wait by the road.
Signing Out When Going Home
Day pupils must sign out with Matron or the House duty staff when going home. Boarders returning home at the end of the week must sign out in the same way.
Boarders Going Home During the Week
Boarders may go home during the week for family events or special occasions by arrangement with their Houseparent.
Weekend Arrangements and Return Times for Boarders
Weekly boarders, and full boarders who are out of school during the weekend,
should return by 9pm on Sunday or by 8.15am on Monday. If you wish your child to return at a different time, please let your Houseparent know.
Absence
Pupil Absence
When a day pupil will be absent during normal school hours or when for health reasons they should be excused from physical activity, please email their Matron and House Parent to that effect. Verbal messages by pupils cannot be accepted. A further email should be sent when they are fit again. If a day pupil is sick and unable to attend school, parents should ring the House by 8am or email Houseparents copying in Matrons. Apart from special occasions (e.g. a family wedding), pupils are expected to be in school throughout the term. The holidays are not short and to avoid embarrassment parents are asked not to request extra time away. If really necessary, requests for time away from school should be made to the Headmaster with a minimum of two weeks’ notice. The same applies if a pupil is not able to attend a sports fixture.
Parent Absence
If for any reason you have to be away during the term (parents of both day and boarding pupils), we do need to know what arrangements you have made for your child, so that in any emergency we know the adult to contact. Please let us have, in writing, the relevant name, address and telephone number.
Occasional Boarding
Occasional boarding is for pupils who want to stay overnight on an ad hoc basis. This facility is available to all day pupils if space allows in individual boarding houses. Beds need to be booked in advance with the Houseparent. There is no guarantee that a bed space will be available.
Occasional boarders must fit in with the routine of the boarders and not be disruptive.
In case of family emergencies, or when parents are away, we can usually help with a bed for the night. The cost per night is currently £85.
Changing Status (between Day and Full, Weekly or Flexi boarding)
Any change of status requires a full term’s notice to the Headmaster or the Admissions Office. Pupils may only change status where the College has capacity for them to do so. We have a defined number of day, flexi, weekly and full boarding places, and while we will always try to accommodatea status change, this will only be possible if the relevant space is available. To request a change of boarding status please click here.
Holidays, Half Terms and Exeats
Pupils should be collected from their House at the end of term, half term and on exeat weekends. Timings vary but are communicated via email prior to each.
If a pupil is not going home directly, or is not going home at all over a holiday period, the Houseparent must have written consent from the pupil’s parent/guardian, giving detail of the arrangements. Additionally, there needs to be consent from the host (who needs to be an adult).
The parents or gurdians of full boarders must complete a Travel Document for Houseparents.
Barriers
We have security barriers at each of our campus entrances. The main entrance barrier is set to rise on approach throughout the day but is switched to PIN operation overnight (11.30pm – 5.30am).
The West Gate & Hyde Road barriers have two modes of operation – open on approach and PIN access only. For security reasons, PIN numbers are not issued to parents. Outside of the barrier open hours below, we require all access to the College to be through the main gate.
The West Gate & Hyde Road barriers are set to open on approach at the following times:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 6.30am – 9am & 3.00pm – 9.30pm
Wednesday 6.30am – 9am & 11.30am – 9.30pm
Saturday 6.30am – 9.30am & 11am – 6pm
Sunday 4.15pm – 9pm
At all other times these barriers can be opened by PIN operation only. You can exit the College through any barrier at any time.
Matrons
Our Matrons play an extremely important role in the the school.
Every House has a Matron on duty from 8am-9pm each weekday and 8am-6pm on Saturdays.
The Matrons’ role is to support the Houseparents in the care of the pupils. They are responsible for the health and wellbeing of the pupils and the smooth running of the domestic side of their House. It is vital that Matrons are told of any medicines brought into the College by pupils, whether prescribed or ‘over the counter’. Self-bought treatments can cause adverse or dangerous reactions if taken with other medicines, and it is essential that Matrons and medical staff are aware of such treatments.
Pocket Money and House Bank
Every boarding house operates a House Bank. All money should be deposited in the House Bank together with any other valuables, important documents, passports, etc. The College will take no responsibility if these are not handed in. Details of the House bank will be provided by your child’s Houseparent.
Food
We have our own ‘in-house’ catering team who are responsible for all meals and catering services. Almost all diets can be catered for. If your child has a particular dietary need, please contact the Catering Manager prior to your child joining us, to discuss your child’s specific requirements, to ensure that these needs can be met (headleyi@lordwandsworth. org).
Tuck
Boarders may keep small amounts of nonperishable food in a lockable container in their dorm/room and small amounts of perishable goods in the House fridge. We do not encourage pupils to bring much in the way of extra food as pupils are required to attend all meals and snacks/fruit are available in the boarding houses in the evening. All Houses run small tuck shops selling sweets and snacks.
Laundry
Matrons look after all the laundry in the Houses which is done on a daily basis.
Full boarders may put any of their clothes in for washing.
Weekly boarders may put all school uniform, underwear and games kit in for washing. Flexi boarders may put all school uniform, underwear and games kit in for washing on the nights when they are resident at College. Casual clothes should be washed at home at the weekend.
Day pupils are not entitled to have their clothes laundered by the Matrons and they should therefore be taken home.
Any items for dry cleaning should be handed to Matron who will arrange for them to be cleaned. A charge will be placed on your school account for this service.
Lost Property
We cannot stress enough the importance of making sure your child’s clothing and personal property are clearly named – even casual clothes and footwear. All lost property goes to our lost property store and named items are returned to Houses on a regular basis.
We advise that as soon as you become aware of a missing possession you ask your child to report it to Matron and their Houseparent. We also advise you contact your child’s Houseparent and Matron to let them know; the sooner we know about a missing item, the greater chance we have of finding it.
Items can be claimed from Hendersons at weekday break or lunch times. Six school weeks after the hand-in date, any unclaimed items will be disposed of in an appropriate manner.
Mobile Devices (phones, e-readers, etc)
We have different rules regarding the use of mobiles devices for each of the year groups. These rules can be found in our Use of ICT, mobile phones and other electronic equipment policy, which is available on MySchoolPortal. Please ensure you and your child read the policy so that you are all aware of these regulations prior to joining us. It is the responsibility of your child to take care of their device when in school. The College provides a lockable space for each pupil, but parents/guardians will need to provide a padlock.
Health Centre Information
Contact No: 01256 860248. Email: healthcentre@lordwandsworth.org
The aim of the Health Centre is to enhance and maintain the health and wellbeing of pupils through an holistic approach. First Aid care is provided for the whole school community.
Health Centre Team:
• Lindsey Scott: Senior Nurse BA (Hons) RN
• Camilla Read: BSc (Hons) RN
• Harriet Cooper: BN (Hons) RNchild
• Jenny Gillies: RN, RNchild (Hons)
• Emma Handley: BN (Hons)
• Jenny Burton: Medical Admin Assistant
We are supported by our Senior Medical Officer, a GP from Odiham Health Centre, who run clinics twice a week after lessons have finished on a Monday and Thursday, with a female and male GP in attendance. For more information on our Medical Services please click here.
The Friends of Lord Wandsworth College (FLWC)
The Friends of Lord Wandsworth College exists to create opportunities for parents to connect with each other and with LWC. Reps are in place for each year group in each house, and work to support an arranged programme of events for each year. A group of parents plans these events a year in advance with the school, and includes a variety of different opportunities from Farm Tours to BBQ skills and star gazing, from barista coffee skills to networking.
Parental Engagement Programme
The Parental Engagement Programme is a pioneering programme of parental support that has been nominated for a national award. Co-created at LWC by parents and the school, it exposes parents to the same research-informed opinion, from the same speakers, that staff and students are also exposed to over time. The aim is to support parents in the toughest job we’ll ever have, and create an even more coherent culture around each child, bringing us
closer together in understanding and supporting as a team. The programme of events is closely overlaid with our Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education which provides parents with opportunities to have more insightful conversations about vital life topics with their children. A parental toolkit has also been co-produced between parents and the school, and though far from a silver bullet, it provides a resource for parents to consult when dealing with classic challenges and dilemmas from the perspective of developing a child’s character. It also has other resources such as a link to the excellent Wellbeing Hub from one of the regular speakers here, Alicia Drummond.
The Sternians’ Association
The Sternians’ Association is the alumni association for former pupils. It is named after the College Founder, Baron Sydney James Stern – Lord Wandsworth. It is a rapidly developing organisation, with a programme of events to suit all ages and interests. The purpose of the organisation is to keep Sternians connected with each other and the College once they leave. While your child is here at LWC there is a small termly Sternian fee that enables them to benefit from the support of the Sternian Association once they leave. You can view the latest annual Sternian magazine on the website to see Sternian and College news. A hard copy can be collected from reception if preferred. We also have a networking platform,
LWC Connect. This platform enables our 1000+ members (Sternians, Sternian parents and current parents) to support and mentor our Sixth Form pupils and our young Sternians as they navigate their way through life after LWC. We welcome all our LWC parents to become members to increase the wealth of knowledge and experience available.
If you have any queries regarding Sternians or LWC Connect then please do not hesitate to contact Clare Faherty, Alumni Relations Manager 01256 860356
sternians@lordwandsworth.org
Pastoral
The House System
Pupils entering the school at 11+ or 12+ join Junior House. At 13+ Junior House pupils transfer to a senior House into which new pupils are also allocated. Pupils are allocated to senior Houses by the Pastoral Team. The intention is that all Houses have a balance of boarders and day pupils and a mixture of children with differing interests and skills. Junior House is a co-educational House for both day and boarding 1st and 2nd Form pupils. Within Junior there is a ‘House’ system. The four Houses are called: Hesters, Sheephouse, Handcroft and Hyde. There are seven Senior Houses: Girls Houses: Gosden, Park and Haygate Boys Houses: Hazelveare, School, Summerfield and Sutton. There is a thriving inter-house programme.
House Councils
House Councils meet at least once per half term and are made up of a broad, representative spectrum of pupils. The function of the House Councils is to give pupils the opportunity to raise issues and offer suggestions, and to discuss and present current pupil opinion on matters of College and House policy. The chairperson of the House Council, who is usually the Head of House, has the opportunity to raise issues from House Council meetings with senior management at their weekly meeting.
Peer Mentoring
We sometimes find that pupils are more comfortable talking to a peer rather than a member of staff in the first instance. As a result we have in place a Peer Mentoring
Programme. Around 40 volunteer members of the College are peer mentors who have received formal training in basic listening and counselling skills. They offer a listening ear to allow pupils to ‘get things off their chest’ if they need to. There are posters in Houses and around the College letting pupils know who the peer mentors are and how to make contact with them. The Peer Mentors are trained to know how to pass on issues to members of staff when they believe they are of significance.
Prefects
The Prefect body at LWC is made up of the Heads of Houses and the College Prefects. Pupils may apply to be considered for leadership roles in the Spring term of their Lower Sixth year and there is a rigorous interview process for all positions.
The College Prefects are involved in whole school initiatives and therefore the makeup of this body varies. Typically, prefects are assigned to, and represent, each year group in the school. The Heads of College are appointed from within the College Prefect body and these appointments are made by the Headmaster. There is also the chance for Sixth Form pupils to become Departmental Prefects.
Heads of College and Prefects
Our Heads of College for the academic year 2024/2025 are Jensen Kelsey (School) and Grace Batley (Haygate). A full list of our Heads of House and Prefects can be found on our website.
House Tutors
Each Boarding House has a team of residential and visiting tutors. These tutors are integral to the House community and assist the Houseparents in running the House in the evenings and at other times when necessary. They take an active interest in all the pupils in their House, getting to know them and helping them. They also offer additional adult contact for the pupils and can be used as a sounding board for their opinions or act as confidants, mentors or mediators. The tutors also act as the academic tutors for a group of pupils in their House. The tutor team meets formally with the Houseparent each week to discuss individual pupil concerns and general House matters. We see this sharing of information as vital in the care of the pupils as it enables an informed and consistent approach to any issues.
Tutors
Every pupil will be assigned a tutor. Tutor groups range in number from 10 to 16 pupils. Your child’s tutor plays an integral role in your child’s development, so please get to know them! The tutor-tutee relationship is most effective when parents/guardians are fully involved; it is therefore important to keep in regular contact with your child’s tutor.
More information on the role of the Tutor can be found here.
Heads of Year
We also have members of staff who act as Heads of Year. Their role is to lead on the academic tracking and monitoring of pupils in that year to make sure all our pupils are fulfilling their potential. They also help their year group to cohere and develop the kind of supportive culture that will enable all to thrive. They organise socials, plan year group assemblies and give the tutors the support they need to carry out their role more easily. We believe that the combination of tutors, Houseparents and Heads of year gives us a sufficiently tight structure to ensure no one is left behind.
Spiritual Life
The College has a lay Chaplain who leads regular whole school and House services. Confirmation classes are offered for those who wish to be confirmed.
While the College is founded on Christian principles, pupils from all faiths are welcomed, as indeed are pupils without a faith. If any pupil wishes to attend a particular place of worship, we will endeavour to make arrangements for them to do so. If any pupil requires special arrangements in order to carry out their acts of worship e.g., suitable areas to set out prayer mats, we will ensure that their needs are met sensitively.
Spiritual diversity is embraced within the College and the whole community benefits from exposure to this diversity through assemblies, the teaching of Religious Studies and the SMSC programme. As well as spiritual care, the Chaplain has a responsibility for the pastoral welfare of the whole community.
Safeguarding and Child Protection
Exceptional pastoral care is the foundation of an effective, nurturing education. Happy, healthy children thrive in an environment where they feel safe and cared for. Safeguarding and child protection are at the heart of life at LWC.
Our Commitment
The College’s Safeguarding and Child Protection policy is available on our website. The Headmaster has overall responsibility for safeguarding, overseen by the Governors (Mrs Lucinda Fleming is our designated governor in this area, supported by Mrs Caroline Cazenove). If a concern arises, from any source – a student, staff member, parent, peer, or someone external – any adult in our community is trained to respond.
Our Team
The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is the Deputy Head of Pastoral, Mrs Alexandra Cocksworth, overseeing Safeguarding, Child Protection, and overall Pastoral Care. The DSL is supported by Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs), including the Head of e-Safety and the Senior Mental Health Lead.
The DSL and DDSLs are trained to identify and respond to any form of child abuse – physical, emotional, sexual, or neglect. They make informed decisions about who to involve. All staff understand they must refer concerns to the Safeguarding Team, Headmaster, and/or Child Services.
Student Support
Every House has posters explaining who to talk to if worried, including a QR code for anonymous reporting. Photos and contact details for the DSL, DDSLs, Health Centre Team, and House staff are displayed.
We are confident our students are safe and feel safe in our care. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Pastoral Care
Our education at LWC centres on outstanding pastoral care. A happy student will excel as they grow. We have a wide range of support available, including Houseparents, Assistant Houseparents, Matrons, the Health Centre, the Chaplain, Youth Workers, College Counsellors, and the Safeguarding and Pastoral Team.
A professional counselling service is available to enhance the College’s pastoral care. Students can contact counsellors in person or by email. The first six sessions are free, after which sessions are added to the term bill. Counselling is confidential unless a counsellor is concerned for a student’s welfare.
Adolescence has its challenges, but at LWC we equip our young people with the tools to manage them. We ensure there is always someone to support them through difficult times and guide them back towards brighter days.
Boarding – LWC’s Aim and Objectives
We aim to provide a boarding environment where every pupil feels safe, able to be themselves, and able to fully develop socially, morally, academically and culturally.
More information on our Boarding Objectives can be found here.
Academic Information
Attitudes, Approaches, Routines and Habits (A 2RH)
The LWC curriculum focuses on helping our pupils develop the attitudes, approaches, skills and habits (A2RH) fundamental to performance excellence. This helps us shape curious, creative, and resilient individuals. For further information on A2RH please click here.
Curriculum Support and EAL
The Curriculum Support Department manages both Learning Support and English as an Additional Language (EAL). Through additional support, not accessible in the classroom, we aim to equip students with the skills needed to study confidently and independently in our school environment. To meet the learning needs of students who require specialist support, LWC endeavours to offer both small group and one-to-one additional teaching.
Please click here for more information.
Aiming High and Scholarships
Scholarships are available to pupils entering the College at 11+, 13+ and 16+.
Pupils already attending the College may apply for a Scholarship as they enter 3rd Form and Sixth Form.
Our Aiming High programme encourages the very best from our pupils whether they are academic scholars or those just looking to delve further into their subjects.
Please click here to see our Scholarship Guide.
Futures Provision
At the heart of the Futures provision is the ethos of creating confident young people who have been given the skills and agility to make informed decisions for themselves about their future. By empowering our pupils in this way, we ensure they are equipped to be flexible, resilient, and can cope with the ever-changing landscape of skills and employment.
For further details on our Futures provision please click here.
Annual Programme of Progress Reports and Parents’ Meetings
We regularly report on the progress of individual pupils and provide an annual schedule of parents’ meetings.
1st Form September (with 2nd Form) November May
2nd Form September (with 1st Form)
3rd Form Early October
4th Form September
5th Form September
Lower Sixth September
December & June (post exams) March
AcademicOctober GCSE Options –January January
Academic –November Post Exams –March June
November (post exams) February
October & June (post exams) January
October, November, December, January, March, May Early June
October, November, December, January, March, May Early June
October, November, December, March, May June
October, December, January, March February
October, January, May Mock Results & Initial GCSE Predictions –November/December
Mock GCSEs –November GCSEs –May & June
October, November, January, March, May June
Upper Sixth September March (post exams) December November, January, March,
Prep
Mock A Levels – February A Levels - June
All subject teachers set prep tasks regularly according to a published timetable. All pupils are given a pupil planner to help their organisation and to meet deadlines. The use of these planners is monitored by tutors.
If pupils are unable to complete a task by a particular deadline it is their responsibility to see the subject teacher and explain why this is the case.
Purpose of prep & study time
P Preparation (reading ahead)
R Revision (looking again at work previously covered, tackling areas of weakness)
E Extension
P Practice (answering questions, practising skills learnt)
Over each term pupils should expect to be set all of these types of task for each subject. Pupils are encouraged to use their study time and other available time to complete tasks set by their teachers to the best of their ability and to read around their subjects.
Prep timings and deadlines
In general, the amount of prep given should not exceed 5 hours per week for 1st and 2nd Form, and 8 hours for 3rd Form. In 4th and 5th form, the amount can exceed the 9 hour prep time limit.
In the Sixth Form, a pupil on three subjects should be spending 4-5 hours per subject per week on prep. Pupils should also consider spending some time each week going beyond their studies, through wider reading or web-based investigation.
Timings per subject:
Co-Curricular Information & Saturdays
We recognise the vital role the cocurriculum plays in the personal development of our pupils and strive to ensure it is as broad, rich and balanced as possible. Most of all, we want the cocurriculum to be fun for pupils. Within the co-curriculum, we want our pupils to explore and develop in three areas:
• Active – sport and fitness activities. The main sports for each term are:
• Winter - rugby for boys and hockey for girls
• Spring - hockey for boys and netball for girls
• Summer - cricket, athletics or tennis for boys and girls
• Creative – Art, Performing Arts: Music, Drama and Dance.
• Service – CCF, DoE, Outreach in the local area
The Co-curricular Timetable
• The co-curriculum runs from 4.10 –4.55pm and 5 – 5.50pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Some activities may take place from 4 – 6pm. Wednesday afternoon is a priority slot for all active sessions. On Saturday afternoon we aim to put on the majority of our sports fixtures against other schools, although there will also be some matches on Wednesday and, occasionally, some other days.
• A number of activities will continue to run over tea and into the evening: street and modern dance, ballet, horseriding, canoeing, open art school,
drama rehearsals, enrichment talks and LAMDA.
For 1st and 2nd Form the emphasis is on trying new things.
Juniors can participate in an activity every afternoon, with main games on Wednesdays and Fridays and a range of active and creative activities available on the remaining days, including pre-season sport, play rehearsals and music ensembles.
Teamwork and enthusiastic participation is the emphasis for 3rd Form. They have main games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and can opt into other active and creative activities on Mondays and Thursdays.
3rd Form will also have the opportunity to take part in CCF on Fridays. It is expected that they will participate in a total of four activities each week (Mon-Fri).
4th Form co-curricular concentrates on creative thinking. 4th Formers have main games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and are encouraged to continue with CCF or take up DofE Bronze award on Friday afternoons. They are also encouraged to get involved in additional active and creative activities or sport on Mondays and/or Thursdays.
For 5th Form, it’s developing a passion and personal growth – with an emphasis on finding and nurturing new interests.
5th Formers have main games on Wednesdays and Thursdays and can still continue with CCF on a Friday if they wish, or do additional active and creative activities on Mondays and/or Thursdays. It is expected that they will participate in a minimum of three activities each week (Monday to Friday).
Sixth Form co-curricular concentrates on
leadership with an emphasis on inspiring others.
Sixth Formers have main games on Wednesdays and Thursdays and are encouraged to get involved in running a club or activity for younger pupils to develop their leadership skills. In the Lower Sixth pupils are encouraged to sign up for the ‘endeavour’ programme which might include endurance training for half-marathon, triathlon or the DevizesWestminster canoeing race, Outreach or getting involved in coaching main sports for younger pupils or pupils at the local primary school by taking the LWC preliminary coaching award.
CCF is still available on Fridays, where Sixth Formers learn to lead a section and instruct younger cadets. Gold DofE runs on a Saturday morning. There is a certain degree of flexibility for Sixth Formers who are able to put together a personal schedule which suits them, as long as main games commitments are met.
It is College policy that pupils are expected to attend all games and activities sessions on their individual programme. In some cases these are optional, but for the major games each term and on certain days, for age groups below the Sixth Form, games and activities are compulsory. If a pupil is selected to play the major game of the term, they must fulfil their commitment. There is no ‘opt out’ system. If a pupil is not required for the ‘major’ game of the term, they will have a choice of ‘minor’ games activities to choose from, such as canoeing, golf, horse-riding, basketball, football, zumba, yoga, squash, swimming and CV Room.
Extra Coaching Opportunities
We also offer pupils the opportunity to have professional coaching in some sports, both in and outside school, which will be subject to an additional cost. These include:
• Horse riding, tennis, polo and golf (offered off site)
Saturday Morning Programme
Our Saturday morning programme is designed to develop inquisitive learners. The Saturday programme gives pupils the freedom to:
• Try things that they would not normally have the opportunity to experience
• Challenge themselves and develop character
• Stretch their intellectual passions
• Find the additional support they need to consolidate their learning
• Explore their inner creativity
• Explore the outdoors and develop new passions
• Become active change makers
Saturday mornings are all about expanding horizons from the normal curriculum. It is a non-uniform day to ensure it feels different from the normal working week. Full boarders are expected to participate but the programme is optional for all other pupils; however, most pupils do participate – and Friday night is our busiest boarding night!
Music, Drama and Dance
The Nadine Upall Theatre, in the centre of our campus, is home to our thriving Music and Drama Department where our creative teams work closely together to deliver an extensive programme of opportunities and events.
For more information on the co-currcular offering of these departments, please click here.
1st Form Orchestral Initiative
At LWC, we aim to foster a genuine, life-long appreciation for Music, and consequently encourage as many students as possible to learn an instrument. We are fortunate enough to be able to offer free music lessons on a range of instruments for the duration of the 1st Form. Lessons are available to complete beginners, taught weekly in pairs, and timetabled during the school day on a rotational basis. In addition, the Music Department will provide an instrument for the year, free of charge. In order to support and enhance these weekly lessons, students participating in the initiative will be expected to attend a weekly lunchtime Training Orchestra rehearsal. In offering a comprehensive, enjoyable musical experience, we hope to encourage your son/daughter to continue playing throughout their College career, having equipped them with the necessary tools to progress.
Duke of Edinburgh Award
The Duke of Edinburgh is a life-changing experience. A fun time with friends. It is an opportunity to discover new interests and talents and a tool to develop essential skills for life and work. The award is a recognised mark of achievement; respected by employers.
CCF
The CCF offers young people a range of challenging, exciting and adventurous activities.
We follow the Army and RAF Cadet training syllabus to train the cadets in basic military and aviation skills and through attendance at camps, field days and external courses we aim to develop
personal responsibility, leadership skills and self discipline.
More details of the CCF programme, Duke of Edinburgh and Outreach, click here.
International Pupils
We offer our international boarders a home from home, allowing them to immerse themselves into the British culture in a wonderfully friendly and supportive way. All pupils join one of our eight boarding houses and have the support of their Houseparent and, of course, their Matron. In addition, all pupils are assigned a personal tutor who is responsible for both the academic and pastoral care of pupils and is always on hand to answer any questions or offer advice to both parents and pupils if needed.
With just over 700 pupils on roll we are small enough to really know our students, yet big enough to offer an extensive range of facilities and a broad curriculum. Our students consistently achieve excellent exam results, while still enjoying our extensive co-curricular activities and leadership opportunities. In our Sixth Form, a growing focus on life after school means our pupils develop greater confidence and ambition as they prepare for university and beyond.
Our Head of Boarding organises a series of trips and activities at the weekends. Boarders can suggest trips they would like to go on and activities they would like to try. Recent trips include days out in Windsor and Winchester and visits to our local golf centre and to the cinema. Our extensive co-curricular programme includes activities such as golf, performing arts, science clubs, the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, and much more.
We have a special interest in the pastoral care of all our overseas students and we aim to help them settle happily into their new environment. The International Students Association exists to promote the interests of international students and enriches the
school by drawing upon the cultural diversity within the student population.
Travel Documents/Visas for International Pupils
We request that parents ensure that all travel documents are valid and up to date. Passports, travel tickets, visa information, biometric (BRP) cards and foreign currency must be handed in to the pupil’s Houseparent for safekeeping. The College cannot accept responsibility for any documents which are lost by a pupil. Copies of passports, visa documents and BRP cards must also be handed in to the school office as these must be stored centrally in accordance with guidelines from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
