The Sciences

Choosing the right subjects for GCSE House Life

Your son/daughter will make initial GCSE choices in Space and Belongings February so that next year’s timetable can be blocked We have to ask you to think carefully about how much ‘stuff’ you bring to school. We have to ensure and staffing planned. They will confirm their choices at everyone has enough space and that it is fairly distributed. the end of this term. There is the opportunity to add any supporting comments on both initial and final Day pupils: desk, shelf or drawer, chair: please do bring in some photos /poster to personalise your option-choice forms if you feel particularly strongly work area. Shared cupboard space for sports bags. about the choices that have been made. Once the final options form is submitted, the allocation of options Flexi pupils: bed, drawers or bedside cabinet, desk, chair, shelf. Please do not bring in too many home will be made based on the information supplied on clothes. Wardrobe/cupboard space is very limited. Please bring in photos/posters to personalise your the form. bed area. Once choices have been made, the College reserves Full and weekly pupils: bed, 1 under-bed drawer, small single wardrobe, desk, shelf, chair. Please be the right to withdraw any courses for which there is aware that you will not have limitless amounts of room or storage space. Do bring photos/posters to insufficient demand. decorate your bed space/room.

We try to accommodate all subject choices within the prescribed framework. However, subjects are Please do not leave your personal belongings around the House. You will find that Miss Liggins and the sometimes oversubscribed and availability of staffing Matrons will remove them. prevents additional classes. If this is the case, we will contact you to discuss alternatives. ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Health and safety in a boarding house is extremely important and therefore you really must follow the On the following pages, you will find more information instructions which come from the College’s Health & Safety Committee. about each subject, as well as some useful advice from the Head of Careers and Higher Education, Sharon Please read the full guidelines which can be found in the College rules at the back of this booklet.

Allmark. These will help you when weighing up the various factors involved in making the most Main points are: • appropriate choices. 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 be left on a hard surface, not your bed or the floor.

Stephen Badger Deputy Head (Teaching & Learning) You may not bring in your own kettles, toasters or TVs • No naked flames: candles etc.

GCSE Reforms House Life

What to do in the event of a fire will be explained by your Houseparent and we’ll have at least 2 fire • All GCSE subjects are now graded and assessed using the new 9-1 structure; drills a term. It is very important that you: • 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’; • 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. • In every subject, the content is more demanding and the assessment more rigorous than previously;• Do not try to put out the fire yourself! • • The assessment will be mainly by exam. In some subjects such as Drama and Art, other types of assessment will If you hear the alarm: stop what you are doing immediately. • be used only where they are needed to test essential skills. For further information about assessment, please speak Leave the house quickly and quietly by the nearest fire exit and go to the assembly point which is to the relevant Head of Department. signposted on the grass outside the main entrance. • Do not stop to pick up any personal belongings. Tiering of exams • At night put on dressing gown and shoes; do not stop to dress fully; ensure that others in your The new GCSEs are only split into foundation tier and higher tier if one single exam paper does not give all students dorm are awake. the opportunity to show their knowledge and abilities. Consequently, exams are tiered in Biology, Chemistry, French, • You should line up in SILENCE in your year groups. A roll call will be taken and you should stay German, Maths, Physics and Spanish.there to await further instructions from the member of staff present. • Do not re-enter the House until told to do so by the member of staff present.

FOOD AND KITCHENS

New grading structure

Current grading structure

9 A* 8 7 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.

• The kitchen facilities in house are not provided as an alternative to attending meals. • 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. • Please don’t bring in large quantities of food from home — particularly perishable products. • Under the updated A 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! • structure, the ‘good Follow instructions when using the microwave and be careful as food and drinks can get very hot. • pass’ for Maths and Toasters are for toasting bread only—please don’t try and cook anything else in them! English is a 5, which is on the border between WE ARE A NUT FREE SCHOOL. PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANYTHING CONTAINING NUTS ONTO THE LWC CAMPUS OR INTO BOARDING HOUSES. a C and a B under the old system. KITCHEN DUTY You should always wash up after you have used the kitchen. There is a daily rota for kitchen duty but the person on duty should only need to do a general tidy round. HOUSE DUTIES We often run whole house events and we like all girls to get involved, helping to run things as well as supporting the events to maintain our excellent reputation!

Choosing the right subjects for GCSE House Life

GUIDING PARENTS You will occasionally be asked to show prospective parents around the school.

Your son/daughter will make initial GCSE choices in When you are asked to do this, make sure you excuse yourself from any lessons

February so that next year’s timetable can be blocked being missed. You should wear your best uniform; shoes must be clean and your and staffing planned. They will confirm their choices at hair neat and tidy. 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 GAMES AND ACTIVITIES about the choices that have been made. Once the final options form is submitted, the allocation of options IN SCHOOL will be made based on the information supplied on You should attend all school games and activity sessions as these are part of your official timetable. the form. If you are selected to play the major sport of the term or represent the College in a team then you Once choices have been made, the College reserves must fulfil your commitment. 2 weeks notice is needed to miss a commitment and permission should the right to withdraw any courses for which there is be sought from the Headmaster. insufficient demand. We try to accommodate all subject choices within IN THE HOUSE the prescribed framework. However, subjects are The house has lots of facilities: Nintendo Wii, table tennis, pool table, board games, large selection of sometimes oversubscribed and availability of staffing dvds and fiction etc. for use in your free time. Please make sure you look after these so that everyone prevents additional classes. If this is the case, we will can enjoy them. contact you to discuss alternatives. House Council— Meet once per half-term. 2 members of each year group. Chaired by the Head of On the following pages, you will find more information House about each subject, as well as some useful advice from the Head of Careers and Higher Education, Sharon The minutes are submitted to your Housemistress whose responses will be published on the house Allmark. These will help you when weighing up the notice board. Items regarding the College in general will be brought up by the Head of House when various factors involved in making the most the prefects have lunch with the Headmaster. appropriate choices. Boarders’ Committee— 1 full boarder from each year. Meet once per half-term. Chaired by an Upper Sixth full boarder Family groups—inter-year groups for fun socials and discussing / debating

Stephen Badger Deputy Head (Teaching & Learning) Buddies—all new girls are assigned a buddy to help them integrate as well as having a dedicated prefect and U6 peer support.

GCSE Reforms House Life

Prep conditions: house is silent, no audible music,

• 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’; Activities: working on prep tasks, revision, consolidation knowledge, noting, reading ahead, testing yourself etc.. • In every subject, the content is more demanding and the assessment more rigorous than previously; Prep time is a time for individual work. • 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 You should be in your room at 6.50pm, have all the stationery and equipment ready to start at 7pm to the relevant Head of Department. Throughout prep time you should be working at your desk, not lying or sitting on your bed. 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 3rd and 4th Formers hand in their phone before the start of prep to the prefect on duty and can get it the opportunity to show their knowledge and abilities. Consequently, exams are tiered in Biology, Chemistry, French, back once prep conditions are over at 9pm German, Maths, Physics and Spanish.

LAUNDRY

New grading structure

Current grading structureMATRONS LOOK AFTER ALL THE LAUNDRY IN THE HOUSE All clothes should be named. You should take your dirty clothes every morning to the laundry room and make sure you put things in the correct baskets. You will find clean clothes in your cubby holes in the laundry room. You are expected to change your bed linen every other Tuesday. Full boarders may put all their clothes in for washing. . 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.

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. 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.

Day girls’ laundry should be done at home.

Washing and drying machines are for use by Matrons and resident staff only. 6th Form pupils may apply to Matron if they wish to do their own laundry.