RATIONALE:

Homework aims to support learning and raise academic achievement by promoting opportunities for independent study.  Homework provides a real opportunity for the partnership between the student, teaching staff and parents.  Homework allows students to work at their own pace, use their preferred learning styles, and to take a pride in their work.

 All GCSE and Post-16 students should expect to complete homework regularly.

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PURPOSES:

·       Homework will provide students with the opportunity to review, revisit, consolidate learning, and broaden their understanding.

·       Homework will, in the majority of cases, be set to address specific needs or tasks and engage students in appropriate learning activities.

·          Homework will support learning through a variety of activities such as preparatory research, background reading, specific learning for tests, recording class work activities, extension of class work, written or reading tasks, coursework, data collation.

·          Homework will play an important role in a well-planned examination course.

·          Homework aims to develop good habits in planning, time management and self-directed study.

·          Where appropriate, homework will be differentiated and will, for the most able, require application to other contexts, (must, should, could).

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GUIDELINES: 

PRE-16

·           The amount of homework set will vary between subjects and there will be busy times when homework, coursework and revision are required.

·           Students taking GCSE can expect one hour per subject per week to be spent on homework as a minimum.

·           Overload should be avoided by allowing students a minimum of 3 to 4 working days for homework tasks to be completed.

·           If work needs to be set on a shorter time scale, staff should agree this with the students concerned.  For example MFL staff may need to set shorter homework more frequently.

·           Students carry a planner to record and plan their homework.

·           Students achieving deadlines should be encouraged and praised and a note of those missing deadlines must be made in teacher records.  Students repeatedly failing to produce homework should be referred to the Head of Dept and Personal Tutor who will then inform parents.

·          It is reasonable to expect staff and students to negotiate deadlines for completion of homework including agreed extension time for specific special cases where this has been discussed.

·          Students can normally expect to receive feedback to homework within 10 working days of the deadline. (See Marking Policy)

·          The college and individual departments will make every effort to communicate the purpose of homework to students and parents.

·         College based Homework Club will be available to all pre-16 students.

·         General homework will not solely include ‘finishing off’ classroom tasks.

·           Students can expect and should be capable of completing a significant amount of their work unsupervised.

·           Advanced GCE students should normally be prepared for a commitment to independent study of 6 hours a week in each subject.

·           Advanced VCE students should expect to give 12 hours independent study and GNVQ Intermediate students 6 hours per week.

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GENERAL

·       All Subject Tutors and Learning Support staff should be fully aware of the college policy on homework.

·       Dept policy on homework should identify subject specific differences in practice and should be made as an addition to the college policy.                                                                                                                             

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