The Principal’s welcome

Dear Parents,

It gives me much pleasure to welcome you as Form IV parents to the academic year 2021/22. We hope that the year ahead will enable us all to have a return to some sort of post-Covid normality.

We believe that the close link between School and home is of vital importance in ensuring the progress of your daughter during her time with us. At Queen’s Gate we pride ourselves on developing life-long learners. Of particular importance is learning how to embrace the academic and social challenges with which our girls meet on their school journeys. By fostering determination and resilience we believe that, at Queen’s Gate, we equip your daughter with the skills to enable her to succeed not just at school but also for the rest of her life.

This booklet is designed to provide you with as much information as possible so that you have a sound understanding of what goes on during the school day and can support us in providing your daughter with the highest standard of education. General information about our School is followed by details of the curriculum which your daughter will follow during this academic year.

During Form IV, your daughter will begin thinking about her GCSE choices. There will be guidance available in School through Form Tutors, our Careers advisor and your daughter’s subject staff. You will also be provided with a GCSE booklet which gives general guidance about subject choice as well as details of all the subjects on offer. Your daughter will be required to take English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, at least one Science and at least one Modern Language. She may then choose other subjects; most girls take 10 GCSEs in total, although some may take more or less than this.

Throughout all of Form IV, your daughter will spend time further refining her study and examination technique to ensure that her skills are fully secure before embarking on her GCSE courses the following year. It is important that she spends time doing so in all her subjects throughout the year, even those she does not expect to pursue at GCSE and beyond, as many of the skills will be transferable between subjects.

At the same time, encourage your daughter to maintain an active programme of activities both in and out of School. It is important for her to learn to juggle her academic and other commitments, ensuring that she has adequate time for both. This is particularly important following the self isolation and Remote Learning last year, when it was more challenging to become fully involved.

We do hope that your daughter will have a successful and enjoyable year in Form IV, but please do not hesitate to contact either me, Miss Spencer, the Head of Lower School, Miss Davies, Head of Form IV, or the Director of Pastoral Care.

With all best wishes.

Mrs R M Kamaryc Principal

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Purpose of the booklet

This booklet has been written to help you support your daughter during her year in Form IV and has two sections: General Information, which explains the School’s routines, organisation and expectations, and Subject Details listed on page 25 which give an introduction to the subjects your daughter will study. For each subject there is a brief outline of the year’s work.

Contents - The Principal’s welcome Life in Form IV How may I contact the School? Who is there to help? The PTA Data Protection - GDPR Our Expectations: The Code of Behaviour Important Dates for the Year Tests and Reporting Progress The School Day Punctuality Absence Attendance Lunch Lockers and Bags Mobile Phones The Dress Code 1

4 5 5 5 6 6 8 8 9 9 9 9 10 10 10 11

Extra Music Lessons Clubs Challenge and Enrichment Learning Enhancement Homework 11

11 12 12 12

Homework Diary Rewards 12 13

The Queen’s Gate Award and Principal’s Award The House System Positions of Responsibility The Queen’s Gate School Anti-Bullying Policy A Time of Growing Independence 13 13 13 13 14

GCSE Options 14

IT Acceptable Use Policy for Pupils Using School IT systems and devices

15 17 Queen’s Gate Online Parent Accounts 20 Personal, Social, Citizenship and Health Education (PSCHE) 20 Physical Education (PE) 21 An Introduction to Subjects Studied in Form IV 25

The information contained in this booklet is correct as at 31st July 2021. However, this information does not form part of any contract or agreement with Queen’s Gate School and the School reserves the right to alter the specifications and/or options, if necessary, during the period for which the booklet is in operation.