Homework

Homework is an important part of school life, contributing to student progress and attainment. It plays a key role in extending the knowledge, understanding and skills that are developed in school and provides opportunities for students to consolidate, enrich and extend their learning.

Aims of homework

• To help all students make progress;
• To allow practice and consolidation of the learning done in class;
• To extend learning from the lesson, e.g. the completion of past exam questions;
• To embed key subject content in long term memory, e.g. the learning of vocabulary, spellings etc.
• To reinforce, practise and develop mastery of key skills e.g. calculations;
• To engage in wider reading and research in preparation for future learning;
• To allow students to gain and practise the skills and knowledge that they will be required to reproduce in assessment situations such as examinations;
• To give students dedicated time to reflect upon learning, correct mistakes and act on feedback to make improvements;
• To develop study skills such as independence, self-discipline, time management and working to deadlines;
• To encourage students to take pride in their learning.

What support is available at Huntington school to support my child with their homework?

 

As a school we provide lots of support to assist all our learners with the completion of set tasks.  Many departments offer lunchtime and after school support sessions, for all Key Stages, with members of staff.  We also have P6 sessions (Period 6) which is situated in the School Learning Resource Centre and provides a learning environment with accessible support and resources.  We realise that it is not always possible to find a quiet area at home to complete work and P6 offers a perfect working environment. Students can attend Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evening to use the facilities to complete work.  Staff are available each night between 3.30 and 4.30pm to support students.  P6 is very popular and attended by students from Year 7 to Year 13.

How can I support my child with homework tasks?

• Help your child by going through homework tasks and checking he/she understands what has to be done;
• Reinforce and discuss the importance of completing homework in order to make progress;
• Provide a suitable environment in which work can be done;
• Encourage students to attend after school support sessions e.g. P6, where students can work in a learning environment with accessible support and resources;
• Monitor the completion of homework and contact your s child’s form tutor if they are having difficulties completing set work.

How and where should homework be recorded?

Homework should be recorded in students’ planners or on Class Charts. When written in their planner, it should be recorded when the work is set and the date is due. This is so management of time can be planned very carefully and will enable both students and parents/carers to review the planner each evening to ensure that students meet each deadline for the following day.

More information on how to use Class Charts for homework can be viewed via the link below.

Class Charts Homework Guide - Parents

What type of work is set?

Homework will always be meaningful, interesting and worthwhile. Homework tasks will vary between subjects.  As part of the homework policy, available on the school website, each subject has outlined possible types of homework.

• Consolidation of learning by applying knowledge and using skills to answer set tasks
• Learning and revision for class tests and examinations
• Improving work and responding to teacher feedback.
• Learning the spelling and key subject terminology
• Research in preparation for future tasks
• Practise and develop skills
• To practise examination questions.
• Completion of controlled assessment and Non Examination Assessment tasks
• Comprehension questions related to key learning etc.

How much homework work is set?

As part of the Huntington Principles of Truly Great Teaching and Learning, homework is planned thoughtfully to enable all students to make progress. There is an expectation that regular opportunities for extended learning will be set in all subjects and as such a prescriptive timetable is not required. The type and frequency of the setting of homework will be monitored closely by Subject Leaders and House teams.