Homework
Homework Guidance
Why is Homework Important?
Homework is an important part of school life. By completing high quality and purposeful homework to a high standard, students can both improve their final outcomes and develop personal skills and resilience essential for success in later life.
Research shows us that there is a direct link between students spending time on homework and their achievement in secondary school. Homework promotes responsibility, builds self-motivation and time management skills and encourages and supports effective independent study. Homework empowers students to take control of new learning, consolidates the learning that takes place in lessons, and provides opportunity for students to embed critical knowledge, skills and understanding.
How is Homework Set?
Homework is set once a week in English, Maths and Science and once a fortnight in other subject areas. There is no published homework timetable as this allows teachers to set homework at the point it is most purposeful to do so. All homework is set and explained by subject teachers in lessons and students will record all homework in their planners. All homework is also recorded on Show My Homework.
Students are expected to take responsibility for organising and prioritising their homework seeking support with this from their Form Tutors and the Teaching Assistants in Homework Club whenever they need to. Homework deadlines will allow adequate time for students to plan their workload over the week.
How is Homework Assessed?
Different pieces of homework will be assessed differently. Subject teachers will always make it clear how homework will be assessed when it is set. Teachers will also indicate how homework will be assessed when the homework is set on Show My Homework so that this information is easily available for families.
Research, pre- reading or preparation homework is likely to feed in to the learning and discussion that takes place in the lesson. Revision or learning content homework is likely to be assessed by a quiz or test. Substantial pieces of written or practical homework are likely to be CAR marked and receive written feedback with students given opportunity to respond to the feedback and further develop their submitted work.
How much time should be spent on Homework?
We would expect students in Years 7 and 8 to spend between 30 – 60 minutes per evening completing homework and students in Years 9, 10 and 11 to spend between 60 – 90 minutes. Students in Years 12 and 13 should spend 5 hours per week for each subject they study completing guided independent study. The amount of time spent on this study for all students is likely to increase in the build up to their exam periods.
We also expect every student to spend at least 10 minutes per day reading a suitably challenging book. The school library is open every day during term time and all students are members and are able to borrow books.
How do I access Show My Homework?
Show My Homework can be accessed via any computer, iPad or Smart Phone. All students will be issued with log in details for Show My Homework during tutor time on the first day of each school year. We will always reissue students in Years 8 – 13 with log in details to ensure everybody is able to access the site from the start of September.
The details on the letter include a student log in and a parent log in. Once you have activated your account you are able to set up homework reminders to ensure that no pieces of homework are forgotten about. If there are any issues with Show My Homework please contact your child’s Form Tutor in the first instance.
All homework will always be recorded by students in their planners in case families are not able to access Show My Homework for any reason.
