25th January 2023
Homework Policy
Dear Families
I am writing to update you on the priorities that we have been focusing on with our students. I hope you find the updates useful and, as always, we appreciate your support.
Our 5 learning habits
In line with our school value of excellence, we are teaching our students about our 5 important habits for learning. Our 5 learning habits support our students to ensure that they are ready to learn and are maximising their learning in lessons. They are:
- Attendance and punctuality
- On Task behaviour
- Perfect uniform
- 100% equipment
- Polite response
Below provides you with some key messages and updates about our learning habits:
Punctuality and attendance
In line with our learning habit of punctuality and attendance, it is important that students attend school every day and that they are on site by 08.15 at the latest so that they can line-up with their form tutor for a positive start to their school day.
100% equipment
We have been speaking to students about the importance of bringing the right equipment to school. This includes:
- A black or blue pen
- A pencil
- A rubber
- A ruler
- A planner
- A reading book for Year 7, 8 and 9 students – either from our library or from home
- This term, students will be given their knowledge organisers – more information will be communicated to families about this
From 30th January, students will also need to bring with them a pencil case and all students will need to ensure they have an appropriate school bag with them.
Students can buy equipment from the main office from 08.00am and the first 10 minutes of their breaktime.
Homework
The main platform for the setting of homework is the Student Planner and ClassCharts; so please do check your child’s planner and ClassCharts. I have attached, with this letter, an overview of the type of homework your child will be set by the different subjects they study. Please see our website for more information about ClassCharts.
This term, we are reviewing our homework systems and will be launching our new Knowledge Organisers with students and homework tasks may be developed further around the way that students use these with our ‘Look, Cover, Write, Check’ approach to embedding powerful subject knowledge. We will write to you with updates.
Kind regards,
Mr Ward
Deputy Headteacher
Homework: subject summary KS3: Year 7, 8 & 9
|
Subject |
Typical activities |
Duration of activities |
Frequency |
Additional support / materials |
|
|
English |
Literacy 1-5 Extended writing |
45 minutes each week |
Set each week by the English teacher |
BBC Bitesize Book in The Bag – Reading book |
|
|
Maths |
Online tasks set on MathsWatch.co.uk; all students have their login details. |
30-60 minutes each week |
Set each week by the Maths teacher |
|
|
|
Science |
Recall and retrieval-based homework.
|
30-60 minutes
|
Once every two weeks |
BBC Bitesize |
|
|
Languages |
Introducing new vocabulary and grammar. |
30 minutes |
Once every two weeks |
Vocabulary lists provided |
|
|
Geography |
Use of knowledge organisers - a quiz task, a key words task using look, cover, write & check and also highlight and encourage students to engage in reading around the topic by identifying a book to read/ website to have a look at. |
30 minutes |
Once every two weeks |
BBC Bitesize Reading list- attached to the task linking in with the reading suggestions. KS3_Reading_Suggestions.pdf (geography.org.uk)
|
|
|
History |
Short written task and knowledge recall quiz |
30 minutes |
Once every two weeks |
BBC Bitesize |
|
|
RE |
Key words/ quizzes – knowledge retrieval |
30 minutes |
Once every two weeks |
BBC Bitesize |
|
|
Creative and technical |
Homework is not formally set other than for end of unit assessments at which point students are asked to prepare and revise, using knowledge organisers and class notes. |
30-60 minutes |
Week prior to end of unit assessments |
Class work / notes |
|
Homework: subject summary KS4: Year 10 & 11
|
Subject |
Typical activities |
Duration of activities |
Frequency |
Additional support / materials |
|
English |
Literacy 1-5 Extended writing |
45 minutes each week |
Set each week by the English teacher |
BBC Bitesize English Knowledge organisers Book in The Bag – Reading book |
|
Maths |
Online tasks set on MathsWatch.co.uk and all students have their log in details. |
30-60 minutes each week |
Set each week by the Maths teacher |
Maths Knowledge organisers |
|
Science |
Exam-style questions.
|
30-60 minutes
|
Every two weeks
|
Science knowledge organisers and BBC Bitesize. CGP AQA GCSE Revision guide. |
|
Languages |
Key vocab practice and exam practice – use of revision guides / revision packs. Revision question cards. |
45- 60 minutes |
Every week |
Revision guides Revision packs |
|
History |
Focuses on knowledge retrieval activities and exam questions. Students have revision packs for relevant units with tasks to complete |
45 minutes – 1 hour |
Every week |
Revision guides Knowledge organisers Revision Packs |
|
Geography |
Focuses on knowledge retrieval activities on previous units –use of revision packs incorporating unit knowledge organisers and revision activities and exam questions . |
45 minutes – 1 hour |
Every week |
Revision guides Tutor2 you –links to revision webinars on youtube Knowledge organisers Revision Packs |
|
Computer Science |
Students are set homework for the theory units at the end of each lesson, to be completed for the following lesson. The homework set is usually to watch a video and make notes when instructed on content that is going to be delivered the following lesson. |
30-60 minutes
|
After every theory-based lesson |
Online package used to support home learning
|
|
Creative Media and Enterprise
|
Varies depending on the unit being completed and assessment. For exam units, exam questions and also tasks using knowledge organisers |
45-60 minutes |
To support examinations and will be set in line with coursework exam board requirements |
Exam questions Knowledge organisers
|
|
OCR Sport |
Varies depending on the unit being completed and assessment. For exam units, exam questions and also tasks using knowledge organisers |
30-60 minutes |
To support examinations and will be set in line with coursework exam board requirements |
Exam questions Knowledge organisers Classcharts |
|
Art / Engineering |
Students have been provided with 'packs' to support homework and home learning. They are asked to complete tasks and additional work to support their portfolio of evidence. |
45-60 minutes
|
Art – ongoing portfolio development
Engineering – To support examinations and will be set in line with coursework exam board requirements |
Packs provided Task sheets / Art book Exam questions Knowledge organisers
|
