Homework Protocol

As a school we value homework and see it as an important part of the learning process, encouraging self-development and self-discipline.

The college regards homework as the purpose to:

• Provide learners with the opportunity to work on an activity that is relevant to learning outcomes, or that contributes to gaining qualifications/accreditations.
• Consolidate and reinforce skills and understanding prior to the following lesson.
• Extend learning across the curriculum, for example through additional reading and independent projects.
• Encourage pupils as they get older to develop the confidence, self-discipline and independence to develop organisational skills.

Homework will be used to effectively reinforce and extend what is learned in school.  Regular, well thought out relevant and quality homework that includes fluency practice, application, retrieval practice and extension is essential in supporting good learning habits, practice and rehearsal, personal development, time management skills and preparation for later life.

Furthermore, evidence shows that the impact of homework, on average, is five months’ additional progress for secondary pupils (EEF).

Students should therefore expect to receive homework regularly and in line with each curriculum area’s expectations.

As the college recognises the importance of homework, teachers will:

• Monitor the completion of homework.
• Provide prompt and actionable feedback to pupils (a variety of methods may be used to provide feedback, such as an appropriate comment of praise, whole class or individual feedback, through Teams, written or verbally with clear areas and instructions for improvement identified, PLEDGE points, etc).
• Sanction non-completion of homework in line with the college’s behaviour policy.

Furthermore, to reflect the college’s commitment to the importance of homework, we will provide facilities to run a homework club after school each day for students to complete their assignments.

The college encourages pupils to undertake any homework task to the best of their ability and expects that pupils will feel a sense of personal satisfaction in a task completed well and that their efforts will be recognised and praised both at home and at school.

The college trusts that parents and carers will be willing and able to give their active support to ensure the best possible conditions for their child to complete any homework task by the set deadlines.

Useful information

Homework will be set via Microsoft Teams.  This platform allows for prompt and relevant feedback as well as monitoring of homework completion.

Year 7 students will be shown how to access Microsoft Teams in IT lessons in the first 2 weeks of the Autumn term. Students joining the college through the year will be shown how to access Microsoft Teams by their form tutor.

The guideline for frequency of homework set in different subjects is outlined below.  Please note that due to curriculum commitments, this may vary slightly throughout the year.

	Curriculum Area	Homework Frequency
KS3 (Years 7 & 8)	English, Maths and Science	1 task per week of maximum 1 hour
	Geography, History and MFL	1 task per fortnight of maximum 1 hour
	Art, Drama, ICT, RE and Technology	Minimum of 1 task per half term for a maximum of 1 hour
		1 task per fortnight
	Music, PE, PSHE	No formal homework but we encourage you to take part in Session 6 or extracurricular activities where possible
KS4 (Years 9, 10 & 11)	English, Maths	1 task per week maximum 1.5 hours
	Science	1 task per fortnight per science subject (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) maximum 1 hour per subject
	MFL, History, Geography, Option subjects	1 task per week maximum 1 hour
	Core PE	No Homework (students are encouraged to attend one extra-curricular session 6 offer instead)
KS5 (Years 12 & 13)	All Subjects	As required by the need of the subject up to a maximum of 4 hours per subject per week

 

The Homework Club runs daily in the LRC, students will have access to desktops, laptops, printing facilities, electronic and physical textbooks and resources.