Rationale
"Homework is not an optional extra, but an essential part of a good education."
- 1999 White Paper, Excellence in Schools
Homework is work that is set to be done outside the timetabled curriculum. It contains an element
of independent study in that it is not usually directly supervised by a teacher. It is important
in raising student achievement.
Not all homework is done at home; in fact, for some pupils who find it hard to work at home, or for
some tasks which may require resources (books, software, equipment) more readily available at school,
it is necessary or desirable to carry out the task at school.
Homework enhances pupil learning, improves achievement and develops pupils' study skills and as such
is an integral part of the curriculum. It requires careful planning and integration into the scheme
of work of each curriculum area.
Aims
Homework enables pupils to:
- consolidate and extend work covered in class or prepare for new learning activities.
- access resources not available in the classroom.
- develop research skills.
- have an opportunity for independent work.
- show progress and understanding.
- provide feedback in the evaluation of teaching.
- to enhance their study skills e.g. planning, time management and self discipline.
- to take ownership and responsibility for learning.
- engage parental co-operation and support.
- create channels for home school dialogue.
Faculty Homework Policy
All faculties have a homework policy, detailing:
- When homework will be set.
- How much homework should be set.
- Types of homework used.
- Place of homework in the scheme of work.
- Faculty incentives.
- Sanctions for unsatisfactory work.
- How and by whom homework will be monitored.
- Homework action plan following most recent detailed monitoring of homework.
Faculty Development Plan may include homework as an area for action.
It is good practice to have regular homework 'workshops' at faculty meetings to evaluate, create and
enhance specific homework tasks.
Expectations: How much and by whom?
Each curriculum area sets the following amount each week.
| Key Stage 3 |
Time per week |
| Subject |
Year 7 |
Year 8 |
Year 9 |
| English |
30 mins |
2 x 30 mins |
2 x 45 mins |
| Maths |
30 mins |
2 x 30 mins |
2 x 45 mins |
| Science |
30 mins |
2 x 30 mins |
2 x 45 mins |
| Technology |
30 mins |
30 mins |
30 mins |
| Geography |
30 mins |
30 mins |
30 mins |
| History |
30 mins |
30 mins |
30 mins |
| R.E. |
30 mins |
30 mins |
30 mins |
| Art |
30 mins |
30 mins |
30 mins |
| Music |
30 mins |
30 mins |
30 mins |
| Key Stage 4 |
Time per week |
| Subject |
Year 10 |
Year 11 |
| English |
2 x 60 mins |
2 x 60 mins |
| Maths |
2 x 60 mins |
2 x 60 mins |
| Science |
2 x 60 mins |
2 x 60 mins |
| ICT |
2 x 30 mins |
2 x 30 mins |
| Option Subjects (3 subjects) |
2 x 30 mins
2 x 30 mins
2 x 30 mins |
2 x 30 mins
2 x 30 mins
2 x 30 mins |
National average
| Year 7 & 8 |
= |
45 - 90 minutes a day |
| Year 9 |
= |
60 - 120 minutes a day |
| Year 10 & 11 |
= |
90 - 150 minutes a day |
When will homework be set?
This is decided by each faculty area in negotiation with the Deputy Head (Curriculum).
On completion of the school timetable Faculties submit their requirements to the Deputy Head
(Curriculum) who prepares and issues the school homework timetables to staff to share with pupils in their planner.
Homework tasks
Homework can be:
- Independent learning
- Consolidation of work in class
- Practice - learning by doing
- Completion of course work assignments
- Research
- Reading
- Interviews
- Drawing
- Using ICT
- Recording
Sanctions
When homework is not completed, teachers should initially support the pupil and ensure the tasks set
meet the pupil's needs. If this is so, then sanctions should be used. Teachers receive support from
their Faculty Head and Senior staff. The sanctions are as follows:
- Class teacher - discussion and negotiation with pupil, imposition, informing parents via diary.
- Faculty Head - discussion and negotiation with referred pupil, imposition, informing parents by diary.
Letter to parents and detention if necessary.
- Tutors - through weekly monitoring of diaries, identifying pupils with homework problems across several
curriculum areas and refers to Head of House. Head of House discusses and negotiates with pupil, applies
sanction or support where appropriate.
- Head of House - refers pupil to Learning Support Co-ordinator or Deputy Head (Curriculum) in the case
of a persistent offender.
Incentives
High quality homework and a good work ethos should be sensitively praised in class.
Where appropriate, homework should be included in display work. Merits at KS 3 or distinction card
credits at KS 4 may be awarded for good homework. For exceptional pieces of homework, a faculty letter
may be sent home.
Responsibilities
The role of the pupil
- To listen to homework instructions in class.
- To copy down instructions for the task and deadline date into the homework diary.
- To ensure that homework is completed and handed in to meet the deadline.
- To attempt all work and give their best.
- To inform the class teacher of any difficulties.
The role of the Form Tutor
- To include homework in pupil mentoring where appropriate.
- To see that homework is being set and recorded.
- To check that the diary is being signed by the parent/guardian.
- To note and respond to any comments written in diaries by parents.
The role of the Class Teacher
The class teacher controls the direction of homework and the nature of tasks undertaken.
The teacher will:
- Set homework according to the timetable.
- Provide the stimulus.
- Give full and comprehensive instructions.
- Set deadlines for completed work and ensure that they are met.
- Mark and return all homework promptly.
- Provide help and support.
- Inform the Faculty Head and Curriculum Leader, Tutor and Head of House when problems arise.
The role of the Resource Centre Manager
- To provide after school and lunchtime opportunities for independent study.
The role of the Faculty Head & Curriculum Leader
- To seek to enhance the quality of homework set.
- To monitor and evaluate homework policy within their curriculum area.
The role of the Deputy Head of Curriculum Development
- To provide staff, pupils and parents with the necessary homework documentation.
- To develop classroom practice to enhance homework across the school.
- To review annually the school homework policy.
- To monitor and evaluate the school homework policy.
The role of the Parents
The role of the parent is crucial if a child is to gain success from homework.
To reinforce its value through positive feedback will give students the confidence to persevere,
work hard and reach high standards of achievement.
Parents can assist by:
- Providing a table, chair and a quiet place to work.
- Negotiating with the student when homework is to be done as a student's free
play is important too.
- Checking the time spent on individual tasks.
- Ensuring that outside clubs do not hamper a child's quality of work and put a child under undue pressure.
- Checking presentation and content of all homework being returned to school.
- Signing the homework diary each week.
- Providing the school with information about any problems through the homework diary or by
contacting the school directly
Parents guide to homework
Monitoring
Structure
Pupils
Homework diaries will be checked by:
- The form tutor (weekly)
- The Head of House (sampled every few weeks)
- Member of the Leadership Team (sampled half termly)
Subject Staff
- Will keep a record of homework tasks as part of lesson plan.
- Make the record available to the Faculty Head and Curriculum Leader.
Faculty Head and Curriculum Leader
- Will sample homework records.
- Will look at examples of homework and talk to pupils and staff according
to monitoring programme using homework monitoring criteria.
- Will evaluate and update action plan.
Deputy Head
- Will sample homework records through faculty review.
- Will sample examples of work and talk to pupils according to monitoring programme.
- Will review school policy annually.
Evaluation
- By LT, co-ordinated by Deputy Head Curriculum Development.
- Whose needs are met?
- Whose needs are not being met and why?
- What are the problems that require short and long term solutions?
- What is the relationship of homework to the curriculum?
- How can policy and planning be more effective?
Policy Co-ordinator: Dr N Wood
Date of Last Review: January 2008