Homework forms an essential part of our Learning Strategy.  Homework is important because it:

• helps to prepare our students for the independent study skills that they will require at Key Stage 4 and beyond
• gives parents/carers a vital opportunity to be involved in their child's education, a vital component of success
• allows students to think independently and take responsibility for their learning
• develops students motivation
• gives students the time demonstrate pride and commitment to their work
• helps to reinforce work done in class
• gives teachers the opportunity to assess students and provide feedback
  
  Homework can therefore be seen as "Learning at Home", and forms an essential part of students overall learning experience, along with other activities such as clubs and hobbies.  In addition regularly talking about learning with students has a powerful impact.  Students are encouraged in college to talk to their parents/carers about something they have learnt.

Style of work to be set
Work set should be in line with Learning Strategy.  In fact homework often gives the opportunity to develop work that there may not have been time to develop in class.

•   Homework set should:
  allow students to creatively apply work that they have done in class
• allow students to develop their thinking on the subject
• be directly related to the Scheme of Learning students are studying
• involve problem solving tasks as much as possible
• involve independent research as much as possible   

Setting of Homework
Overall, across all the Learning Areas, we aim to set between 2 and 3 hours of homework each week at Key stage 3.  This increases to between 4 and 5 hours at Key Stage 4.  Setting of homework is monitored by Learning Area Team Leaders and Director Learning on a half termly basis and it is assumed there are 6 weeks in every term.  The following are minimum requirements and staff are encouraged to set work in addition to this wherever the Scheme of Learning allows.

Core subjects - English, Maths, Science at Key Stage 3
As a minimum requirement homework in the core subjects should be set 4 times within each term.  Each homework piece should be planned to take 1 hour to complete.  It is possible to set fewer, longer homework tasks, but the overall time allocation should be the same.  However it is felt that this "project" approach is better suited to work done in foundation subjects.

At least 2 of the pieces of work should provide written feedback from the teacher.  Other pieces may be peer marked or receive verbal feedback.

Foundation Subjects - MFL at Key at Key Stage 3
As a minimum requirement homework should be set 4 times within each term.  Each  piece should be planned to take 1 hour to complete.  It is possible to set fewer, longer home learning tasks, but the overall time allocation should be the same.

At least 2 of the pieces of work should provide written feedback from the teacher.  Other pieces may be peer marked or receive verbal feedback.
All other foundation subjects, excluding Citizenship and PE at Key Stage 3
As a minimum requirement homework should be set 2 times within each term.  Each piece should be planned to take 1 hour to complete.  It is possible to set fewer, longer tasks, but the overall time allocation should be the same.  Longer project work is encouraged in the foundation subjects wherever possible

At least 1 of the pieces of work should provide written feedback from the teacher.  Other pieces may be peer marked or receive verbal feedback.

Homework at Key Stage 4
The homework load at Key Stage 4, will vary depending on the course a student is following.  The majority of students should expect to do between 4 and 5 hours a week and this may include revision and preparation for controlled assessments done in school time.  Each GCSE equivalent subject should set work at least fortnightly, each piece taking 1 hour to complete.  At least 2 of the pieces of work per half term should provide written feedback from the teacher.  Other pieces may be peer marked or receive verbal feedback.

Homework at Key Stage 5
Through regular contact with their Personal Mentor, all students are monitored closely to ensure they are meeting the demands of their chosen course of study, including homework.  In most cases students should expect to be involved in one hour of independent study for each taught hour.

Last updated: 27 September 2011

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