Home Learning
We aim for our students to get the most from their education. In order to achieve this, home learning plays an important role. It serves a number of purposes, including:
- Encouraging students to develop independent learning skills.
- Providing an opportunity for students to practise and consolidate what they have learned in lessons.
- Enabling students to spend more time on tasks than would be possible in lessons and therefore to produce work in greater detail.
- Preparing students for future lessons, assessments, examinations and the world beyond school.
The School utilises the online homework support tool "Show My Homework" to set all home learning tasks. Students and parents receive an online login code and then can access all home learning tasks set by staff.
There is no blanket policy on home learning which applies to all the year groups and subjects in the school. Instead, teachers have developed practices in setting home learning in their own specialist areas which enable students to make the best possible progress. These practices have been developed in consultation with students. Heads of faculty can provide more detailed information about their own home learning policies.
However, there are some patterns which you can expect to see. Firstly, home learning will be set frequently. In many subjects it is likely to be set on a weekly basis, although this will vary due to the fact that students have more lessons per week in some subjects than others. Secondly, the quantity of home learning will increase as students’ progress through the school. In Year 7 it is likely to be around one hour per night on average. Home learning will also become increasingly challenging as students get older. By the time they reach Key Stage 4 in preparation for GCSEs students will be expected to complete around 2hrs+ of home learning per day. In KS5 students should expect to complete at least one hour of independent study per hour of taught time per subject.
Commitments
Teachers will:
1. Only set home learning when it is appropriate and purposeful.
2. Ensure home learning tasks are made available to students and parents via Show my Homework
3. Provide appropriate feedback according to the school’s marking policy
4. Where appropriate, set home learning activities that are differentiated, inclusive and varied
5. Provide appropriate and incremental sanctions in line with the school behaviour policy to students who fail to complete home learning adequately or who fail to hand it in on time.
Students should:
1. Use Show My Homework to gain the details and support on their home learning.
2. Allow adequate time to complete their home learning to standard that reflects their understanding and best efforts
3. Stick to the timing guidance from their teacher and if they exceed this to write down the amount of time it took
4. Where possible find a quiet environment to complete their home learning
5. Take initiative for their own learning exploring and developing their understanding beyond the tasks set.
Parents are encouraged to:
1. Assist their child with planning and organising their home learning.
2. Provide their child, where possible, with a suitable learning environment in which to complete their home learning, without distractions.
3. Discuss home learning tasks and teacher feedback with their child to encourage conversations about learning.
