VLE
Homework is a vitally important part of how we help our students work, think and learn independently. Homework tasks include written work, research, project work, reading, learning work and revision.
Completing homework diligently gives students a wide range of skills and qualities, helping them to:
Year 6-13 students must bring their planner to registration and every lesson. All homework tasks, future assessment dates, assessment results and other such information must be recorded in the planner. Students may not use any other method of recording such information, as that would make it impossible for parents and tutors to check and intervene. Students should remember that their parents and Class Tutor must sign their planner each week. Failure to use the planner correctly will be logged and may result in sanctions.
Some homework requires students to access the internet. Students will also need at least a printer (preferably colour) at home. Students should ensure that they have sufficient plain A4 paper and printer ink or toner.
In Years 6-8, students receive a homework timetable showing the subjects in which homework will be set each day. Students must manage their homework around extracurricular activities and family commitments. Parents may need to assist until students learn to organise this for themselves. Parents should please check their child’s planner daily and discuss the most appropriate homework schedule for each evening.
In Years 9-11, homework is set in (almost) all lessons, so there is no separate homework timetable. Students should also allow enough time throughout the school year for individual study, revision and practice.
In Years 12 and 13, students are given homework in every lesson. In addition, to stay in complete control of all their work from day-to-day, Sixth Formers must set aside time for thorough revision and practise.
Because of the difficulty of AS and A Level material, it is essential that students do not arrange extracurricular, family or social commitments that will significantly reduce the time that they can devote to their studies.
*Teachers may wish to combine shorter homeworks. For example, in Year 10, a subject that meets twice weekly will set homework which is expected to take a total of 60-80 minutes per week. This may be one long homework, with none set for the other lesson, or two shorter homeworks: one for each of the two lessons.
Ordinarily, all homework must be submitted in full and on time. However, situations can occasionally arise which mean that students are unable to complete homework on time. Examples include:
Any student facing such a situation must arrange for one of their parents to write a brief explanation of the circumstances in their Student Planner. It is the student's responsibility to obtain this written explanation.
Teachers will not sanction a student for failing to complete homework on time if the student has arranged a parental explanation. However, the homework must be completed, in full, as soon as possible thereafter.
If a student has been absent from school, it is their responsibility to find out the classwork and homework that was missed and to catch up as fully and as quickly as possible after they arrive back to school.
Teachers will be sensitive to such factors as:
Every situation is different, so it is not possible to create precise guidelines, but in every case it remains the student's responsibility to catch up as best they can.