The Sciences

Choosing the right subjects for GCSE House Life

DRESS AND UNIFORM

Your son/daughter will make initial GCSE choices in February so that next year’s timetable can be blocked All the information about uniform and dress guidelines can be found in the College’s uniform and and staffing planned. They will confirm their choices at equipment guide. the end of this term. There is the opportunity to add any supporting comments on both initial and final Here are a few key points: • option-choice forms if you feel particularly strongly You should wear your uniform from 7.45 am until the end of the working day (4pm earliest). • about the choices that have been made. Once the final You must wear College games kit for all sports and activities. • options form is submitted, the allocation of options You may only attend lessons in casual clothes or in games kit if you have a specific reason and, even will be made based on the information supplied on then, only with the permission of the person in charge of the outing or the teacher concerned. • the form.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. Jeans or ripped trousers are not considered smart casual! • Once choices have been made, the College reserves You must not go to tea in your games kit, although you may put your tracksuit on over the top of it the right to withdraw any courses for which there is and wear clean trainers if you are in a rush. insufficient demand.

We try to accommodate all subject choices within the prescribed framework. However, subjects are DUTIES sometimes oversubscribed and availability of staffing prevents additional classes. If this is the case, we will ‘POINT’ DUTY You should wash up after you have used the Point. There is a rota by year contact you to discuss alternatives. group for tidying up. Make sure you check the rota so you know when it is your turn. We now have a house dishwasher!

On the following pages, you will find more information about each subject, as well as some useful advice from BEDTIME DUTY Some evenings a member of the 6th Form is on call to help the member of the Head of Careers and Higher Education, Sharon staff on duty get everyone in the lower years to bed at the appropriate time.

Allmark. These will help you when weighing up the various factors involved in making the most GUIDING PARENTS You will occasionally be asked to show prospective parents around the appropriate choices. school. When you are asked to do this, make sure you excuse yourself from any lessons being missed. You should wear your best uniform; shoes must be clean and your hair neat and tidy.

Stephen Badger

Deputy Head (Teaching & Learning)

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

Health and safety in a boarding house is extremely important and therefore you really must follow the instructions which come from the College’s Health & Safety Committee.

Please read the full guidelines which can be found in the College rules at the back of this booklet.

GCSE Reforms House Life

Main points are: • All GCSE subjects are now graded and assessed using the new 9-1 structure; • Always switch all appliances off when you are not in your room. • 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 dorms only one item may be plugged into each wall socket. • In every subject, the content is more demanding and the assessment more rigorous than previously; • In single rooms a power extension block can be used with no more than four outlets. • • The assessment will be mainly by exam. In some subjects such as Drama and Art, other types of assessment will Hair dryers and straighteners must be plugged directly into a wall socket—they should be left on a be used only where they are needed to test essential skills. For further information about assessment, please speak hard surface, not your bed or the floor. to the relevant Head of Department. You may not bring in your own kettles, toasters or TVs but you can bring computers, ipods, shavers and Tiering of exams hair equipment. 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, FIRE PROCEDURE German, Maths, Physics and Spanish. FIRE

If you discover a fire:

• Inform a member of staff immediately

• If it is not safe to reach a member of staff, raise the alarm by shouting ‘FIRE’ or if you are near a red alarm box, break the glass and sound the alarm.

• Do not try to put out the fire yourself!

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.

Under the updated WHEN YOU HEAR THE FIRE ALARM structure, the ‘good pass’ for Maths and • Stop what you are doing immediately English is a 5, which is on the border between • a C and a B under the Leave the house quickly and quietly by the nearest fire exit and go to the assembly point which is in the car park outside the Summerfield main entrance. old system. • Do not stop to pick up any personal belongings • Shut all windows and doors behind you and turn off lights • At night put on dressing gown and shoes; do not stop to dress fully; ensure that others in your dorm are awake.

Choosing the right subjects for GCSE House Life

• Please ensure you know where your fire exits and assembly point(s) are. • Your son/daughter will make initial GCSE choices in February so that next year’s timetable can be blocked and staffing planned. They will confirm their choices at You should line up in SILENCE in alphabetical order in your year groups. A roll call will be taken and you should stay there to await further instructions from the member of staff present. • the end of this term. There is the opportunity to add any supporting comments on both initial and final Do not re-enter the House until told to do so by the member of staff present. option-choice forms if you feel particularly strongly about the choices that have been made. Once the final Formal fire drills are carried out at least twice a term. options form is submitted, the allocation of options will be made based on the information supplied on the form. OCCASIONAL (AD-HOC) BOARDING • Once choices have been made, the College reserves You need to bring your own duvet, pillows ,sheets., towels wash kit etc. • the right to withdraw any courses for which there is If you want to board on a one off basis, please let Mr Irvine (cc: Matron) know in good time to check insufficient demand. that we have a bed available. • • We try to accommodate all subject choices within the prescribed framework. However, subjects are sometimes oversubscribed and availability of staffing School uniform and sports kit can be washed in school for those pupils on the flexi, weekly and full boarding packages Please, when you are boarding, treat the full and weekly boarders dormitory space with consideration. prevents additional classes. If this is the case, we will contact you to discuss alternatives. FOOD AND KITCHENS

On the following pages, you will find more information • about each subject, as well as some useful advice from The kitchen facilities in house are not provided as an alternative to attending meals. • the Head of Careers and Higher Education, Sharon Milk, bread, spreads, fruit, tea, coffee, squash and hot chocolate are provided in the house daily—

Allmark. These will help you when weighing up the check with Matron for the times when these are available. • various factors involved in making the most Please don’t bring in large quantities of food from home — particularly perishable products. • appropriate choices. 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!

Stephen Badger

Deputy Head (Teaching & Learning)

WE ARE A NUT FREE SCHOOL. PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANYTHING CONTAINING NUTS ONTO THE LWC CAMPUS OR INTO BOARDING HOUSES.

GCSE Reforms House Life

GAMES AND ACTIVITIES

• 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 IN SCHOOL candidate is that they will be ‘in the top 20% of those achieving grades 7-9 in the subject’; You should attend all school games and activity sessions as these are part of your official timetable. • 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 Unless your teacher tells you otherwise, you should wear college sports kit for all games and activities. be used only where they are needed to test essential skills. For further information about assessment, please speak to the relevant Head of Department. If you are selected to play the major sport of the term or represent the College in a team then you must fulfil your commitment. 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 IN THE HOUSE the opportunity to show their knowledge and abilities. Consequently, exams are tiered in Biology, Chemistry, French, German, Maths, Physics and Spanish. The house has lots of facilities: X-Box1, PS4, table tennis, pool table, table football, air hockey, dart board, board games, etc. for use in your free time. Please make sure you look after these so that everyone can enjoy them.

New grading structure

Current grading structure

HAIR

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.

Your hair should be kept neat and tidy. 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. Under the updated HOUSE COUNCIL structure, the ‘good pass’ for Maths and English is a 5, which is The idea of the House Council is that you can modify the House routines, make suggestions for house events or facilities and prompt changes for the better regarding school rules. on the border between a C and a B under the old system. The Council meets about once a term. It consists of one or two pupils per year group. You will nominate your year group representative(s) at the start of term. The Council is chaired by the Head of House. The minutes are submitted to your Houseparent 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. You may also use the ‘Yellow Book’ if you have any suggestions or concerns