English

Choosing the right subjects for GCSE House Life

ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL

Your son/daughter will make initial GCSE choices in February so that next year’s timetable can be blocked If you will not be in school for any reason, your parents should ’phone the boarding house by 8.30 am and staffing planned. They will confirm their choices at to let us know. the end of this term. There is the opportunity to add any supporting comments on both initial and final Apart from special occasions (eg. a family wedding), you are expected to be in school throughout the option-choice forms if you feel particularly strongly term. about the choices that have been made. Once the final options form is submitted, the allocation of options Requests for leave of absence from lessons must be put in writing by your parents to the Headmaster. will be made based on the information supplied on The exception to this is an appointment to the dentist, physio etc where a telephone call to Mr the form. Shedden is fine. Where possible, 2 weeks notice is expected. Once choices have been made, the College reserves If the request involves missing an afternoon activity/sport it is YOUR responsibility to obtain the right to withdraw any courses for which there is permission from the member of staff who runs the activity that will be missed. insufficient demand. We try to accommodate all subject choices within If you have been ill and are going to be ‘off games’ on your return, please bring an explanatory note the prescribed framework. However, subjects are with you on your arrival. sometimes oversubscribed and availability of staffing prevents additional classes. If this is the case, we will contact you to discuss alternatives.

On the following pages, you will find more information about each subject, as well as some useful advice from the Head of Careers and Higher Education, Sharon

Allmark. These will help you when weighing up the various factors involved in making the most appropriate choices.

Stephen Badger

Deputy Head (Teaching & Learning)