HOMEWORK

Homework is any work or activity which pupils are asked to do outside lesson time, and tasks can include reading, revising, researching, planning, designing, and sketching in addition to written work.

We believe that it is important because it helps pupils

• learn how to plan and organise their work
• learn how to work on their own
• learn how to use time effectively and meet deadlines
• practice what has been introduced in class, or undertake background work that will help enhance understanding
• use resources other than those available in school
• involve people outside school in their work
• LEARN MORE!

Pupils are given a Planner in which to record the details of homework set, and to help them plan their work. Students in each Year Group also have a Homework Plan setting out the amount and frequency of homework which they can expect in each subject.

Copies of the Homework Plan are sent home and are also available for download below:

Year 7 Homework Plan 2011-12

Year 8 Homework Plan 2011-12

Year 9 Homework Plan 2011-12

Year 10 Homework Plan 2011-12

Year 11 Homework Plan 2011-12

Year 12/13 Homework Plan 2011-12

Homework will in some subjects be set once a half term and may take the form of an extended piece/interrelated pieces of work. In these cases students may be given individual deadlines and monitoring deadlines by their class teacher which they will be expected to meet in order to enable them to plan their work and complete the task(s) set by the final deadline.

Details of these extended homework tasks will be downloadable here.

We believe that parental support and encouragement in ensuring that homework is done conscientiously and without distraction is crucial to our students’ learning. In order to be able to fully support their children in their learning, parents and carers need information about what work their children are expected to do at home. We therefore encourage them to check and sign their child’s Planner weekly, check the website regularly for details of the major pieces of homework, and if appropriate to make comments or leave notes for their teacher in the Planner.

Parents and students are given more detailed guidance in the Course Information Booklets which are produced at the beginning of each year for each Year group. Copies are available for download under the Curriculum tab. Further homework details and support in some subjects, especially for students in the Upper School, are available on Departmental Blogs. A list of Departmental Blogs is available here and there are also links to each one on the individual Subject pages under the Curriculum tab.

Pupils are encouraged to seek advice from their teacher if they are having difficulty with their homework, or are finding that it is taking a much longer time than expected. Each GCSE subject will typically set 60-90 minutes of work per week as necessary. Parents/carers are also welcome to speak to their child’s form tutor in the first instance if they are concerned about homework issues.