Homework

We believe there is significant value in independent learning as pupils prepare for their future learning, revise, practise skills taught in the classroom, and develop their organisational and time-management skills.

Your independent learning now follows a whole school rota and is set on Teams.

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What do I do if I need my log in details?

Speak to your tutor for your login details to Teams. Speak to your subject teacher for your login details to:

• Hegarty Maths
• Bedrock Learning
• Doddle
• Linguascope

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What if I need help with my homework?

Speak to your subject teacher and come to the homework club. See the timetable below (only taking place when the school is open).

	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY
Year 7		MA1 2:15-3:15pm	MA1 2:15-3:15pm
Year 8		STEM ROOM 2:15-3:15pm	STEM ROOM 2:15-3:15pm
Year 9	Graphics Mac Room 2:15-3:15pm		Graphics Mac Room 2:15-3:15pm
Year 10	HU1 3:30-4:15pm		HU1 3:30-4:15pm
Year 11		MU1 (Mac Room) 3:30-4:15pm	MU1 (Mac Room) 3:30-4:15pm
6th Form			Library

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Home-School Partnership

We also believe that this is a partnership between home and school and as such parental support is vital in our efforts to build independent learning habits in our pupils, your children.

As a parent/carer you should take an active role in supporting your child's independent learning. This should involve:

• The Student Planner - you will sign the planner weekly, ensuring that you are aware of the work that has been set. There is an opportunity to write to class teachers or tutors through the comments page, for clarity or further explanation.
• Environment – by providing an appropriate environment for homework i.e. work place, block of uninterrupted time.
• Discipline and time management - promoting a healthy balance between homework, extra-curricular activities and family commitments. Stopping your child from continuing to complete homework late into the night, even if it is not complete. A note can be written in the planner which will be followed up by the subject teacher.
• Encouragement - providing encouragement and appropriate support without doing the homework for your child.
• Communication - Contacting the class teacher if your child has repeated difficulty in completing homework within the suggested time

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Our promise to you

When setting homework teachers will:

1. Ensure that homework tasks are meaningful and necessary for embedding learning from lessons or contributing to future learning
2. Give clear limits of how much work should be done on an assignment e.g. number of words/minutes/homework slots. In KS3 homework will last for no more than 45 minutes per subject. In KS4 homework will last for no more than one hour per subject
3. Give clear expectations of how much is to be completed in open-ended tasks and projects and what the assessment criteria are
4. Allow enough time for students to record details and ask for clarification if necessary and acknowledge homework when it is handed in

We expect parents to take an active role in supporting their child's independent learning. This will happen through two key areas.

The student planner format allows you to quickly and visibly see which subjects have set independent learning tasks in any given week.

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Frequently asked questions

How often will independent learning tasks be set?

Homework will be set according to the school rota.

Year 11
MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY
English	Mathematics	Science	History	MFL
Option 1	Option2	Open	Geography	RS
Year 10
MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY
Science	English	MFL	Mathematics	History/Geography
RS	Option 1	Open	Option 2	Option 3
Year 9
MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY
Mathematics	MFL	History	Science	English
Science	Mathematics	Geography	English	Open
Year 8
MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY
English	Science	Mathematics	English	Mathematics
History	Geography	MFL	Open	Open
Year 7
MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY
Science	Mathematics	English	Mathematics	English
Geography	History	MFL	Open	Open

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How long should I spend on independent learning tasks?

Of course, it depends on the task and where appropriate specific guidance will be given. However, pupils should be spending a minimum of 30 minutes completing a task per subject. This should mean that if pupils are managing their time appropriately, they are spending at least one hour each evening completing their tasks.

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Is there an Independent Learning Timetable?

Please see above. Tutors will work with pupils on time management approaches where appropriate.

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How long will I have to complete a task?

Staff will usually give pupils a week to complete a task. Occasionally a shorter deadline may be given. If pupils struggle to meet that deadline, they should speak to their teacher before the deadline in the first instance.

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Is there an Independent Learning club?

There will be an Independent Learning Club in the times advertised below, according to year group.

	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY
Year 7		MA1	MA1
Year 8		STEM ROOM	STEM ROOM
Year 9	Graphics Mac room		Graphics Mac room
Year 10	HU1		HU1
Year 11		MU1 (Mac room)	MU1 (Mac room)
6th Form			Library

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What if I need help?

If we need help completing a task, we can ask our class teachers. Sometimes this may mean making an appointment to meet them and talk through the task.

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What if I miss a deadline?

If a task is not submitted, we would allocate a 40-minute detention. A new deadline would be negotiated with the pupil. If there are exceptional circumstances, please bring a note explaining these to your class teacher.

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What if my work is not up to the required standard?

We expect independent learning tasks to be well-presented and reflect high levels of effort. If we make mistakes, that is fine - it is part of the learning process. We may receive opportunities to redraft and reflect upon work completed.

If our work is not completed to an appropriate standard, the teacher will make a decision about the appropriate sanction.