Homework
Benefits of homework and independent study
Engaging with learning beyond the classroom consolidates and extends your child's knowledge, skills and understanding by helping them to review and practice what has been learned during lessons. This develops independent learning skills and good study habits that are vital to exam success and will serve your child well throughout their life. This also informs and involves you in your child's learning.
By securing the intended learning in this way It helps your child to prepare for their next lessons. Homework makes your child engage in deliberate practice using resources, such as libraries, reference materials, and relevant websites to deepen their understanding and broaden their knowledge. Without practice students would not retain their knowledge and be able to recall this information, when needed.
Homework also encourages students to explore subjects even more holistically than classroom time permits. It therefore provides an opportunity for students to really ‘show off’ what they are capable of and achieve their personal best.
How do students record their homework?
Google Classroom is used for the setting and tracking of homework across all year groups. There is no need for students to write homework in a planner because the full details of what they need to do is shared with them via Google Classroom. They can view all of the homework they have been set using their Google Classroom calendar on their Chromebook.
Google Classroom
Google Classroom is the platform that we use to set homework for students from years 7-13. As a parent you are able to sign up to receive emails on a weekly or daily basis, if you have a google account (click on this link to Create a Google Account). As a College we are unable to change the time of the week or day that the email is sent out, as this is set by Google.
The emails that you receive will give you the class code, due date, title of the homework and a description of what your child needs to do to complete it. This information will be a good starting point for you to talk to your child about the homework they have been set. On occasion, teachers may also give further explanation regarding the homework task in the lesson and your child may be able to provide you with more detail about it.
In the middle of the class code, there are letters for each subject. You can find out which letters correspond to which subject here. If you would like to know which teacher has set the homework you can find that information on Edulink by looking at your child’s timetable (see page 7 of this guide). Unfortunately we are unable to change the format that the email is sent to you in as this is decided by Google.
For further assistance with the Google Classroom email summaries please see this comprehensive help page.
How much homework can students expect to get?
The quantity and types of homework change as students move through college. During Key Stage 3 homework is set once a week by the core subjects: English, Maths and Science. Other subjects follow a timetable to ensure students do not get overwhelmed as they transition from primary to secondary school homework expectations.
During Key Stage 4 each subject will set much more regular homework and revision activities than during Key Stage 3. Students should expect to be set an hour per week per subject on average. Teachers set the work in whichever period of the week is most appropriate and teachers will review the completion of every piece of homework. Students in Key Stage 4 are given control of their time management. Students should expect to be working on home learning activities for between 10 and 15 hours a week throughout Key Stage 4 and parental recognition and support of this increased home work load is important.
You should ensure that your child has somewhere quiet where they can work without disruption and that you monitor and limit their use of social media/computer games to help them remain focused upon their learning.
What happens if a student doesn't do their homework?
Homework is a vital aspect of college life and if homework is not completed to a good standard or it is not handed in on time students will be given a lunchtime subject detention and this will be recorded on their behaviour log.
Repeated failure to complete homework means that a student is not engaging with their learning in a way that will ensure good progress and the Pastoral team will contact parents/carers to check at home. The college can work with you and your child to improve engagement and ensure homework is completed.
We have a homework support group for students with additional learning needs and there are spaces around the college where students can stay to work after college if they find concentrating at school easier or do not have an internet connection at home.
