Homework

Below is the homework timetable for everyone in Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. If you would like a paper copy of the timetable please see your PSO or your tutor.

* - Accelerated Groups

Year 7

7A* - 7DWA

7B* - 7MME

7C - 7JPO

7D - 7ASM

7E - 7TRA

Year 8

8A* - 8JMO

8B - 8ATA

8C - 8LMN

8D - 8MHA

Year 9

9A* - 9BLI

9B - 9JPH

9C - 9JMI

9D - 9IBO

9E - 9GTA

Key Stage 4

Year 10

Year 11

Homework Policy

This explains the homework policy of the school, why homework is important, and how parents and the school can best work together to help the boys to make best use of their time.

Homework is an essential part of school work because it gives pupils an opportunity to learn for themselves by themselves. It shows teachers what pupils can do on their own and what they have not understood.

1. There are several reasons why homework is set. It helps develop the selfdiscipline needed to work independently which is vital later in life. It allows consolidation and assimilation of work studied in the classroom and enables teachers to cover more ground more quickly. Finally it opens up areas of study not accessible in the school. It must be emphasised that homework is assessed and reported upon to parents.
2. The actual homework timetable informs you which subjects are set per night of the week. It is sent home in the first two weeks of September. It will help form the habit of doing some work each evening. It also spreads homework over the week to avoid overloading pupils. Teachers will try to work to the timetable but there are bound to be interruptions eg due to absence. Parents are requested to keep the homework timetable available and monitor that your son is completing his homework according to the timetable set down.
3. Government guidelines on homework are in line with our own practice on this issue. The amount of time a boy is expected to spend on homework is as follows: Years 7/8: 45 - 90 minutes per day, Year 9: 1 - 2 hours per day, Year 10/11: 1½ - 2½ hours per day. Tasks will be realistic in the time available where possible but different students do take different amounts of time according to their ability and motivation.
4. Homework club: a supervised one hour session is made available to students every night after school in the school’s Learning & Resource Centre (3.30 4.30pm) to ensure that pupils can have support with their homework. It also provides a quiet place and access to books, materials and equipment including computers and CD ROM. Parents are encouraged to make arrangements with their son to make use of this resource.
5. Homework will be clearly related to the work pupils are doing in school. It might be an extension of classwork eg. practising skills learned in a lesson; a personal enquiry project or assignment set over one or more homeworks (particularly for GCSE coursework); preparation for next lesson; background reading, research and factfinding. There may be a choice of homeworks set in order to cater for the more able and/or more highly motivated.
6. Pupils will be given feedback on their homework.
7. It will help if a pupil chooses the same time each evening to do their homework in order to establish a routine. They should make a fairly early start before they are too tired. Homework MUST NOT BE 'fitted in' into odd minutes at school or at home. Plan ahead do not leave it to the night before it is needed.
8. A comfortable and quiet work place is needed. Older pupils will work best in a room by themselves but younger ones may need their parents' company and support.
9. Parents can help by checking presentation, handwriting and spelling; testing to find out what has been learnt; discussing work; listening to them reading what they have written; suggesting sources of information. ABOVE ALL, praising genuine effort.
10. Each pupil will be given a STUDENT DIARY in which there are guidelines for homework and an open letter to parents, teachers and pupils explaining why homework matters. It also includes a copy of your son's timetable, a list of his teachers, and a code of expectations which we hope you will read through with your son, a merit recording page and a school calendar.
11. Regular checks are undertaken within KS3 and KS4. A homework setting rate is reported to the School’s Governing Body after review and action by senior teachers.
12. Homework forms an important link between the home and the school, enabling you to keep in touch with your son's work. If you wish to check on homework look in your son's STUDENT DIARY. Parents are encouraged to use the comment space in the diary and sign it each week. If you have any concerns please do not hesitate to contact your son's Tutor, or the Head of Year.