The Sciences

Choosing the right subjects for GCSE House Life

HAIR Your son/daughter will make initial GCSE choices in Your hair should be kept neat and tidy and, for girls in 1st to 5th Form, hair must be tied up during February so that next year’s timetable can be blocked the working day. It should be natural in colour—any highlights should be subtle in nature and and staffing planned. They will confirm their choices at professionally done. the end of this term. There is the opportunity to add any supporting comments on both initial and final Your hairstyle should not exhibit any extremes of fashion. option-choice forms if you feel particularly strongly about the choices that have been made. Once the final options form is submitted, the allocation of options JEWELLERY AND MAKE UP • will be made based on the information supplied on You may wear a discreet amount of make-up when in school uniform • the form.Coloured nail varnish and any type of false nails are not allowed • You can wear one stud or sleeper in the lower lobe of each ear, one discreet ring, necklace and/or

Once choices have been made, the College reserves bracelet, but not ankle bracelets, when in school uniform. • the right to withdraw any courses for which there is Tongue/lip/eyebrow/nose or any other “unusual” piercings are not allowed in school insufficient demand.

We try to accommodate all subject choices within the prescribed framework. However, subjects are ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT sometimes oversubscribed and availability of staffing Health and safety in a boarding house is extremely important and therefore you really must follow the prevents additional classes. If this is the case, we will instructions which come from the College’s Health & Safety Committee. contact you to discuss alternatives. Please read the full guidelines which can be found in the College rules at the back of this booklet. On the following pages, you will find more information Main points are: • about each subject, as well as some useful advice from Always switch all appliances off when you are not in your room • the Head of Careers and Higher Education, Sharon In dorms only one item may be plugged into each wall socket • Allmark. These will help you when weighing up the In single rooms a power extension block can be used with no more than four outlets. • various factors involved in making the most Hair dryers and straighteners must be plugged directly into a wall socket—they should be left on a appropriate choices. hard surface, not your bed or the floor. You may not bring in your own kettles, toasters or TVs

Stephen Badger

Deputy Head (Teaching & Learning)

GCSE Reforms House Life

• 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

FIRE • No naked flames: candles etc. What to do in the event of a fire will be explained by your Houseparent and we’ll have at least two fire drills a term. It is very important that you: • Either tell a member of staff, if safe to do so, or raise the alarm by shouting ‘FIRE’ or by breaking the glass on the red box alarm. • Do not try to put out the fire yourself! • If you hear the 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 in the car park opposite Gosden main entrance. • Do not stop to pick up any personal belongings • At night put on dressing gown and shoes; do not stop to dress fully; ensure that others in your dorm are awake. • You should line up in SILENCE in your year groups. A roll call will be taken and you should stay

Current there to await further instructions from the member of staff present. • grading structure Do not re-enter the House until told to do so by the member of staff present. FOOD AND KITCHENS The kitchen facilities in house are not provided as an alternative to attending meals. A Milk, bread, spreads, fruit, tea, coffee, squash and hot chocolate are provided in the house daily—check with Matron for the times when these are available. B Please don’t bring in large quantities of food from home — particularly perishable products. You can bring tuck in but you must either keep it in one of the house fridges or in your own secure tuck box. If you put something in the fridge don’t forget to name it! Follow instructions when using the microwave and be careful as food and drinks can get very hot. Toasters are for toasting bread only - please don’t try and cook anything else in them!

9 A* 8 7 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.

Under the updated structure, the ‘good pass’ for Maths and English is a 5, which is on the border between a C and a B under the old system. WE ARE A NUT FREE SCHOOL. PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANYTHING CONTAINING NUTS ONTO THE LWC CAMPUS OR INTO BOARDING HOUSES.

Choosing the right subjects for GCSE House Life

DUTIES

Your son/daughter will make initial GCSE choices in February so that next year’s timetable can be blocked KITCHEN DUTY You should always wash up after you have used the kitchen. There is a daily rota and staffing planned. They will confirm their choices at for kitchen duty but the person on duty should only need to do a general tidy the end of this term. There is the opportunity to add round. any supporting comments on both initial and final HOUSE DUTIES We often run whole house events and we like all girls to get involved, helping to option-choice forms if you feel particularly strongly run things as well as supporting the events to maintain our excellent reputation! about the choices that have been made. Once the final GUIDING PARENTS You will occasionally be asked to show prospective parents around the school. options form is submitted, the allocation of options When you are asked to do this, make sure you excuse yourself from any lessons will be made based on the information supplied on being missed. You should wear your best uniform; shoes must be clean and your the form. hair neat and tidy.

Once choices have been made, the College reserves the right to withdraw any courses for which there is GAMES AND ACTIVITIES insufficient demand. We try to accommodate all subject choices within IN SCHOOL the prescribed framework. However, subjects are You should attend all school games and activity sessions as these are part of your official timetable. sometimes oversubscribed and availability of staffing If you are selected to play the major sport of the term or represent the College in a team then you prevents additional classes. If this is the case, we will must fulfil your commitment contact you to discuss alternatives. IN THE HOUSE On the following pages, you will find more information The house has lots of facilities for use in your free time. Please make sure you look after these so that about each subject, as well as some useful advice from everyone can enjoy them. the Head of Careers and Higher Education, Sharon Allmark. These will help you when weighing up the PUPIL VOICE various factors involved in making the most House Council—Two girls from each year voted for by their peers. Meet once per half-term. Chaired by appropriate choices. the Head of House The minutes are submitted to your Housemistress 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.

Stephen Badger Deputy Head (Teaching & Learning) Boarders’ Committee— One full boarder from each year. Meet once per half-term. Chaired by an Upper Sixth full boarder. Family groups—inter-year groups where you can discuss ideas and ask questions

GCSE Reforms House Life

PREP (Homework) • All GCSE subjects are now graded and assessed using the new 9-1 structure; Prep conditions: house is silent, no audible music, • 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’; Activities: working on prep tasks, revision, consolidating knowledge, noting, reading ahead, testing yourself etc.. • 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 Prep time is a time for individual work. be used only where they are needed to test essential skills. For further information about assessment, please speak to the relevant Head of Department. You should be in your room at 6.50pm, have all the stationery and equipment ready to start at 7pm Tiering of exams Throughout prep time you should be working at your desk, not in bed, or on one of the house The new GCSEs are only split into foundation tier and higher tier if one single exam paper does not give all students computers. the opportunity to show their knowledge and abilities. Consequently, exams are tiered in Biology, Chemistry, French, German, Maths, Physics and Spanish. 3rd and 4th formers hand in their phone by 7.15pm and can get it back once prep conditions are over at 9pm

LAUNDRY

New grading structure

Current grading structure

9 A* 8 7 A 6 B 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.

MATRONS LOOK AFTER ALL THE LAUNDRY IN THE HOUSE You should take your dirty clothes every morning to the laundry room and make sure you put things in the correct baskets. This needs to be done before 9am. Under the updated You will find clean clothes on the named laundry racks. structure, the ‘good pass’ for Maths and You are expected to change your bed linen every other Tuesday. English is a 5, which is on the border between Full boarders may put all their clothes in for washing. a C and a B under the old system. Weekly/Flexi boarders may put all school uniform, underwear and games kit in for washing. Casual clothes should be washed at home at the weekend. Day girls’ laundry should be done at home.