Reviewed: May 2014
Review Date: May 2016
HOMEWORK POLICY
Underlying our homework routines are the considerations that:
1. Homework is essential because it enables pupils:
i)
to cover the ground of overloaded syllabuses;
ii)
to take a hand in organising their own study;
iii)
to develop as independent learners;
iv)
to give time (often unavailable in lessons) to learning, review and revision;
v)
to enable parents to support the learning.
It is also essential because it underlines our view that, for each pupil, the highest possible academic success
is vitally important.
2. If we are expecting pupils to take homework seriously, then we must treat it seriously and expect parents to
do the same.
For us, this means:
i)
planning for homework as we would for work done during a lesson;
ii)
ensuring each time that pupils know precisely what they have to do for homework;
iii)
always checking homework in some way;
iv)
ensuring that pupils have, at the beginning of the year, a homework timetable which we intend to
stick to.
For parents, this means:
i)
providing pupils with a place to do their homework (and if possible, some reference books to help
them);
ii)
checking each night what homework is set and making sure it has been done;
iii)
encouraging - and where possible actively helping - pupils in doing their homework.
3. Homework set should not be beyond the pupils' ability. (Teachers are not there to help them.) However,
homework should be differentiated (just as lessons) to ensure challenge and the opportunity for all pupils to
improve.
4. Low ability pupils are just as entitled to homework as high ability pupils. We have an obligation to provide
the means by which pupils make progress.
GUIDELINES FOR SUBJECT TEACHERS
As subject teachers, therefore, we should:
1. Plan lessons so that homework is linked to the work done in the lesson. Homework should be relevant and
offer students opportunities to succeed. When giving the details of the homework, staff should explain the
purpose of the homework and how it will develop student learning. In practical subjects, homework can be
used to support progress in the written elements of a course.
2. Homework does not always need to be a written exercise. Reading, researching, learning, etc are all valid,
provided pupils really know what they have to do and know also that there will be a check whether they have
done it. Refer to the Assessment and Marking Policy for guidance on the nature and timescale for marking and
assessment of homework.
Subject
Teachers
Every week
1. Set homework according to the Homework timetable. It is
acceptable to set a homework which fills more than one ‘timetable
slot’ as a piece of extended homework or project so it is important to
tell students to fill in all the slots for the number of weeks it covers.
Many students express a preference for this type of homework.
2. ALWAYS write or project the homework on the board.
1
Every term
1. Check the
Homework
Timetables for
the classes you
teach
2. Remind students
in all classes
3. Allow time in the lesson for setting homework. Set the homework
at the start of the lesson so that staff can check that it has been
recorded correctly in the Planner during the lesson.
4. SEN pupils should be assisted in noting homework in their planners.
5. Planners should be out of bags, open and on desks so that staff,
can check that homework has been recorded.
6. Check every homework in some way.
7. Staff should note the homework set for all classes on the
Homework Recording Sheet as decided by the individual
departments.
about bringing
planners to
lessons.
3. Always follow up in some way if homework is not done. Be sympathetic if pupils have genuinely tried but
couldn't do it: be very unsympathetic if they didn't try. "Do it tonight"; "Do it tonight together with some extra
work"; "Do it in private detention with me" are the first three stages for malingerers. A note in the student
planner is a vital way of communicating with both tutor and parents.
NB:
1. All departments should set homework unless they have a specific dispensation from JET/EB.
GUIDELINES FOR HEADS OF DEPARTMENT
All departments should agree with the guidance of the HoD a departmental homework policy which will
include:
(i) what aims they hope to achieve through the use of homework (and how these tie in with
overall departmental aims);
(ii) what types of homework are most suitable to the subject;
(iii) how homework relates to departmental schemes of work;
(iv) how the "homework slots" designated to them will be used
(v) how homework will be checked and/or marked (see Assessment and Marking Policy)
(vi) how teachers within the department will record what homework is set;
(vii) how teachers within the department will support each other in dealing with pupils who
persistently fail to produce set homework.
Teachers within the same department can support each other further by creating a ‘bank’ of homework - some
for use as a follow-up to specific aspects of the schemes of work and some for use as ‘fall-back’ homework.
HoDs should take a lead in encouraging and organising this.
Heads of
Department
Every week
Check that all staff set homework
according to the Homework
Timetable as set out by the School
Homework Policy.
Every term
1. Ensure that there is a clear Department
Homework Policy that conforms to the
School Homework Policy.
2. Agree a format for the recording of
Homework set that is appropriate to the
Department. This may be a spreadsheet,
word document or column on an electronic
markbook.
3. This record MUST be in a format that can be
printed off or shown in a QA or PM
observation or at the request of Head of
Department of SMT. From the start of a new
academic year, it should show all homework
set from June until the QA or PM
observation.
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GUIDELINES FOR TUTORS
1. Every pupil should be given a planner at the start of the school year.
Every day
Every week
Every term
Tutors 1. Tutors should check 1. If a Planner is lost, the tutor must ensure
1. Every pupil should
that students have
that the pupil sees the Head of Year for a
be given a planner
their Planners with
replacement.
at the start of each
them.
2. Check each pupil's Planner at least once a
term.
2. Tutors must
2. If a student forgets
week and initial it when done.
ensure that all
to bring in their
3. Note especially any comments or
students have
Planner, the tutor
messages from parents.
4. Check that there is an entry for every
copied their
should issue them
subject as set out in the Homework
Homework
with a printed day
Timetable (this should have been written in
Timetable into
Homework sheet.
their Planners
Heads of Year will
the front of the Planner by the student).
5. Pass on any concerns about homework
when new
have copies to
to Head of Year, or for subject specific
Planners are
issue to Tutors.
concerns, Head of Department.
issued.
GUIDELINES FOR HEADS OF YEAR
Every week
Heads of Year
1. Ensure that all tutors have copies of
Daily Planner sheets.
2. Deal with concerns expressed by tutors
about students and completion of
homework that are brought to their
attention.
3. Respond to parental enquiries that they
receive about homework, either directly with
the tutor, subject teacher, Head of
Department or student.
Every term
1. Ensure all tutors are issued
with enough Planners for their
tutor set.
2. Check that all tutors have
passed on Homework
Timetables to students.
3. Check to ensure that all
students have their individual
homework timetables copied
into their Planners.
HOMEWORK TIMETABLE
1. An outline of the Homework to be set for each pupil in each year will be issued in both June and
September.
2. The homework timetable will indicate when the Homework is to be set and will be as near to the ideal of 2/3
homeworks per day as possible but pupils must be aware that the homework set on a given day does not
necessarily have to be done that evening. (It is possible that a Year 8 pupil, for example, could be set
Geography, History, RE and DT on one day as each of these subjects has pupils for only once per week.
Obviously the pupil would ‘spread out’ the times at which s/he did the work.).
3. Emphasis will be on a homework being set when indicated. The nature of the homework can vary (e.g.
written, reading, learning) but work must be set and a check of some sort that it has been done carried out.
4. All pupils will have a homework timetable which requires their doing homework every evening. Suggested
timings are:
Year 7 1 hour
Years 8/9 1-1½ hours
Year 10 1-2 hours
Year 11
1-2½ hour
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