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Homework Policy
- The Purpose of Homework
Homework is an important part of the learning process. It includes, in principle, both work set by class teachers and independent study by pupils (using ‘reading books’, text books or other available sources). The independent study element will become increasingly important as pupils progress through their education.
Set homework may be concerned with:
preparation for work in class;
extending work begun in class;
reinforcing work completed in class; or
learning work that has been undertaken at home or in class.
In general terms, pupils and parents should expect that set homework:
will vary in amount and type both from subject to subject and according to the pupil’s age group;
may include any of the following activities: reading; researching; collecting materials and images; writing either short or long pieces for assessment; making notes; drawing; reinforcing understanding gained in class by working through examples; extending tasks begun in class; learning/revising; listening exercises and practising instruments in music;
may necessitate the use of ICT. Pupils who do not have access to computers at home sometimes choose to complete such work on the school network at breaks or lunchtimes; they may also seek (through their Head of Year) to borrow a school laptop.
- Homework is never set unless is it actually necessary to support learning in a subject. It is for class teachers
to make a professional judgement as to what is necessary, based on the guidance provided by Heads of Department.
- It is the responsibility of pupils to record homework accurately and clearly in their Log Books at the time it is
set, together with the date by which it is to be completed.
- Parents are asked to check Log Books regularly to make sure that homework is recorded and completed.
They should address general queries about homework to the form tutor in the first instance who will, if necessary, direct them to the member of staff best placed to answer them.
- All pupils are required to complete the homework that is set to benefit their education. If homework
cannot be completed for good reason, parents are asked to make a note in the Log Book explaining to the
teacher what has happened. Sanctions may be used to enforce the homework obligation unless there is a good reason for a pupil not to have done a particular piece of work.
- Reporting.
In Key Stages 3 and 4, homework is reported upon by being graded as Excellent / Good / Inconsistent / Unsatisfactory in Progress Reports. In the Sixth Form, homework is reported upon indirectly as part of the Application grade and also through the recording of the number of pieces of work handed in late or that are missing during the reporting period.
- Pupils with significant SEN may be given modified ( differentiated ) homework. If not, they should only
complete those parts of the work that they are able to do. It would be helpful to staff if parents made a note in the Log Book in such cases.
- In Year 7 we try to keep homework as far as possible (i.e. without compelling teachers to set unnecessary
work) in a regular pattern of relatively short pieces. This is to help pupils to adjust to a homework regime without being overwhelmed by it. Parents who have concerns (especially in the first term) about how their child is coping are asked to bring them to the attention of the Head of Year.
- Requirements inevitably change as pupils progress through the school. This may sometimes mean that (in a
particular week) no homework is set while at other times a significant amount is required to be completed, often with more than one week being allowed for completion.
- How much time should pupils spend on homework?
It is impossible to answer this question in absolute terms, but as a general guide it is expected that in an average week pupils should be engaged in studying outside class time (either on work set by a class teacher or on independent study) for the times shown below:
In Key Stage 3: 4 – 6 hours per week, with no more than 1 hour per night (Year 7), or 2 hours in any one night (Year 8). No more than 3 different subjects to be studied on any one night (both years).
In Key Stage 4: 8 – 10 hours per week.
Sixth Form: 15 hours per week.
- Current practice in the setting of homework in the different departments is summarised in the ‘General
Guidance’ table overleaf.
Subject Key Stage 3 Key Stage 4 Sixth Form History Year 7: Once a week, collected in the following lesson. Year 8: Two pieces every 3 weeks, collected in the following lesson.
Once a week, collected in the following lesson or before the next lesson according to circumstances (clear instructions given when work set).
Homework is set every lesson.
ICT None. Year 9: None. GCSE: Once a week, to be e-mailed to the teacher.
Once a week, to be e- mailed to the teacher.
Learning Support Approx. 15 minutes of written work each week and the expectation that pupils will revisit spellings before the next lesson.
Not applicable. Not applicable.
Mathematics Once a week, collected in the following lesson.
GCSE: Once a week, collected in the following lesson. AS: Twice a week, collected in the following lesson.
Twice a week, collected in the following lesson.
Music Homework is occasionally set in Year 7, but not in Year 8.
Once a week, collected in the following lesson.
Work is set each lesson.
Physical Education None. GCSE: Once a week, collected in the following lesson. (Year 11 pupils on a one-year course should expect two homeworks).
A Level: 2 – 3 hours per week.
Religious Studies Year 7: Once a fortnight, collected in the following lesson. Year 8: Once a week, collected in the following lesson.
Core: Homework may be set, but not regularly every week. GCSE: Once* a week, collected in the following lesson. (*Year 11 pupils on one year GCSE will have 2 homeworks per week.)
One and a half hours each week.
Science Once a week, collected in the following lesson.
Biology: Once or twice a fortnight. Chemistry: Once a week.
Physics: Once a fortnight, collected in during a lesson.
Biology: Homework after every lesson. Chemistry: Twice a week and often with an additional study task. Physics: Two sets of problems to work through each week.
