Mathematics

GCSE Reforms House Life

WHAT TO WEAR • All GCSE subjects are now graded and assessed using the new 9-1 structure; You should wear your full school uniform or LWC sports kit during the school working day, so until • 9 is the highest grade, awarded to the very best candidates in the subject. The official definition of a grade-9 4.00pm or the end of your activities (whatever is later). candidate is that they will be ‘in the top 20% of those achieving grades 7-9 in the subject’; The dress code for tea is ‘relaxed’ BUT sensible! • 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 Exeats and Half Terms be used only where they are needed to test essential skills. For further information about assessment, please speak It is also worth remembering College finishes at 4.00pm (or after your activity) on exeat or half terms. to the relevant Head of Department. DRESS AND UNIFORM Tiering of exams You should wear your uniform from 7.45 am until 4pm or after your activities. You must wear College The new GCSEs are only split into foundation tier and higher tier if one single exam paper does not give all students games kit for all sports and activities. the opportunity to show their knowledge and abilities. Consequently, exams are tiered in Biology, Chemistry, French, German, Maths, Physics and Spanish. For meals you should be dressed appropriately. Dress for outings and events will often be ‘smart casual’ - you need to make sure you have some suitable clothes in school for such events. If in doubt check with Miss Liggins before you go. Make sure you have a white and/or flesh coloured bra to wear under your white shirts. Skirt length: • 3rd-5th Form just below or on the knee when standing tall. • A Sixth Form: no shorter than one hand width above the knee when standing tall. Be aware of back vents which can be rather high and can rip. Skirts that ride up when you walk are not appropriate.

You must be in a suit with jacket—see dress regs for more details. HAIR Your hair should be kept neat and tidy and, for girls in 1st to 5th Form, hair must be tied up during the working day. 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.

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. 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.