Homework
SCHOOL POLICIES - HOMEWORK
What is homework for?
- to develop perseverance and self-discipline;
- to allow practice, where it is needed, of skills learned in the classroom;
- to permit more ground to be covered and more rapid progress to be made;
- to enable classwork to concentrate on those activities requiring a teacher’s presence;
- to open up areas of study and to make possible the use of materials and sources of information that are not accessible in the classroom;
- involve parents (and other adults) in pupils’ work.
What is homework?
Homework can take many forms, only one of which is written work. Where written work is set it is checked/ marked as per the school marking policy, so that students can achieve the best possible feedback. Some other possibilities for homework include:
- learning/revising classwork (should be tested/ discussed in some way)
- watching a television programme (discussion)
- drawing/designing/sketching
- talking/discussing ideas with others
- keeping a personal diary
- make a tape recording
- collecting relevant materials eg for Art, Science, Geography etc
- preparing a presentation
- continuing with investigations/projects/surveys and reference wok
- helping in the community
When is homework set?
In some curricular subjects homework is deemed not to be always appropriate. (Homework will be set in most National Curriculum subjects, according to the new homework timetable published by the Head of Year at the beginning of the academic year, and this is recorded in the Student Planner).
How long should homework take?
The amount of time that each subject homework should take is currently (in minutes):
Year Approx time per subject
7 25-30
8 25-30
9 30-35
10 40-45
11 40-45
On average, three pieces of homework (ie three subjects) should be expected each school night.
It must be stressed that these are guidelines. Obviously, different students work at different speeds. Allowance will be made for this.
Where is homework recorded?
Each student in years 7 – 13 is given a Student Planner, containing a homework diary, which must be kept accurately. Various people have responsibilities with the Student Planner and homework in general:
STUDENTS are required to keep the Planner up to date with homework set, due date and completion.
SUBJECT STAFF ensure that students write down the homework set and when it is due to be collected.
HEADS OF AREA satisfy themselves that the members of their departments are carrying out the school policy on homework. This would involve looking at Student Planners from time to time.
Who takes responsibility?
STUDENTS must write details of the homework in their Planner, Learning Support Assistants (LSAs) may write the homework in for those pupils with special needs. The homework must be completed to the best of their ability and handed in by the deadline.
PARENTS are requested to check the Student Planner for completeness and discuss homework with their child. The Planner is often used by staff to keep you informed about your child’s progress so whilst we ask that you sign the Planner on a weekly basis and make comment if necessary, it is probably worth looking at it on a more regular basis. If you have any concerns or questions about the homework your child is receiving please do not hesitate to contact their tutor.
FORM TUTORS check the Student Planner regularly, signing them when they have done so. If there are any problems then the appropriate subject teacher, Head of Area or Head of Year is consulted. Warning signs looked for include: diary not properly kept; blank spaces; “none set” entries; regular absences from school on particular days; students misplacing Student Planners; parents not signing Planners.
HEADS OF YEAR have an overall view of students. Regular monitoring of Planners is a part of this, with appropriate action being taken when there are problems. Praising a student for a well–kept Planner is another aspect of the Head of Year’s work.
ASSISTANT HEADTEACHER (Students) is responsible for the implementation of the school homework policy and is available for discussion of problems of policy implementation.
