Homework and Independent Learning

We believe that homework, when used correctly can help students to achieve their potential more fully than if we simply relied on study conducted during the timetabled curriculum. There is clear evidence that successful students make progress when they embrace homework and where they take the opportunity to enjoy, consolidate and extend their learning. Through homework, students become flexible independent learners able to cope with the demands of a future working life. ā€œKey Principles Extensive meta-researchā€ conducted by the Educational Endowment Foundation reveals several key principles in the setting of homework which allow for that work to have the most significant impact and these have been adopted within our approach. Our approach to homework has been relaunched in 2024 considering accessibility, purposefulness, accountability and value. This has started with Years 7, 8 and 12 and will roll out to the other year groups in September 2025.

The key points which we consider when planning homework tasks are:

  • Homework needs to directly linked to threshold knowledge and receive some acknowledgement or feedback from the teacher
  • Homework must be integrated into schemes of learning
  • The purpose of the homework needs to be made clear to the students
  • Staff workload cannot be negatively affected
  • Homework is most effective when it is short and focused activities
  • Consideration must be given to the ability to students to access it both in terms of cognition but also the physical environment and resources
  • There should be variety of activities set

In Years 7 and 8 homework is broken down as outlined:

30mins per week for English, Maths, Science, reading and MFL (2 hours 30mins)

10 mins per week for all other subjects except for PSHE and Drama (1 hour 20mins)

(Practical subjects could set project based homework of the equivalent of no more than 1 hour per half term and with a structure that that would allow a student to break the task down.)

Gives a total of 3hours and 50mins of homework per week or just short of 33mins per day

In Year 12 (and Year 13 from September 2025) homework is broken down as outlined:

1 hour per week minimum of homework per subject plus 1 hour per week per subject of signposted independent learning = 6 hours per week of study, still leaving 5 hours of non-contact time per fortnight

In this context homework is considered to be work which directly links to the curriculum and reinforces core knowledge and signposted independent learning is wider reading and develops a wider understanding that isnā€™t necessarily directly linked to core knowledge.

In Years 9, 10, 11 and 13:

departments set regular homework tasks which are clearly linked to the classroom learning which may include research for forthcoming lessons or tasks linked to assessments and final exams. Many of our departments set homework using online platforms such as Hegarty Maths and Educake.

All of our students are also encouraged to undertake independent study and retrieval practice and this is reinforced through study skills sessions as part of the PSHE programme, parents information evenings and assemblies.