Home learning

While homework can seem like a daunting task, it does not have to be. There are many simple steps you can take to help your child be successful with homework and ensure they form good homework habits.

Homework has many benefits. It can:

  • improve remembering and understanding of schoolwork.
  • help students develop study skills that will be valuable even after school.
  • teach them that learning takes place anywhere.
  • foster positive character traits such as independence and responsibility.
  • teach students how to manage time.

Types of Homework

Homework Typically serves two main purposes

  • Retrieval practice: reinforce learning from what was already presented in class and help students master
    specific skills.
  • Flip learning: prepare students for content that will be presented in future lessons.
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Tips for Parents

  1. Establish a quiet, well-lit place for your child to do homework. Try to ensure that this spot is be free from distractions such as mobile phone, laptop, video games or even the television in another room.
  2. If you are looking for information on the internet, you should close all unnecessary tabs. This way you can pay full attention and waste less time.
  3. Begin at a set time and create a routine, such as establishing that homework is done after an afternoon snack, but always to be done before outside play or TV time.
  4. Help your child figure out what is their “hard” homework and their “easy” homework. Help your child with their hard homework first so that the easy homework will go faster after they may have felt some fatigue or frustration from the “harder” homework.
  5. If you do not understand your child’s homework, engage in frequent communication with their teacher(s).
  6. Be positive about homework with your child. While it is not always fun, homework is a tool to help your child retain information learned in school and to master new concepts they are learning throughout the day.
  7. Reward progress in homework.
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Reading at Home

Reading at home is especially important for students. Studies have shown that those
who read for pleasure improve their wellbeing such as high levels of self-esteem, greater
ability to cope with difficult situations and have better sleeping patterns (J. Billington,
2015).

Tips for Parents

  1. Encourage your child to read at least 20 minutes every day.
  2. Ask your child to choose what they would like to read. They will feel more interested in the story if they have picked it out themselves.
  3. If you can, turn off the TV, radio and computer. It is easier for both of you to enjoy the story without any other distractions.
  4. Make them read aloud regularly.
  5. Ask questions and talk about the book. Give them space to talk, and ask how they feel about the situations in the story.
  6. Make use of your local library.

Homework

The aim of homework at Queensmead School is to encourage the continuation of learning at home as an essential part of a student’s education. Homework not only reinforces classroom learning, it also helps students to develop skills, attitudes and understanding. 

The key objectives of setting homework are:

  • consolidating and reinforcing knowledge, understanding and skills developed at school.
  • to encourage students to develop the skills, confidence and motivation needed to study effectively on their own
  • extending school learning or preparing for the next steps in the learning process, for example through additional reading
  • managing particular demands, such as GCSE and A-Level coursework.
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Homework Policy

Homework is an important part of the Teaching and Learning provision at Queensmead School. Research indicates that the impact of homework can be up to 8 months of additional progress and we encourage students to consolidate and extend their in class learning at home.

Homework activities will vary in different departments and may be one-off pieces of work, or longer projects. An average expectation for homework would be:

KS3 Homework

All subjects that are taught at least twice a week will set a weekly homework in line with the programme of study. Subjects taught only once a week will set homework on a fortnightly basis.

  • Year 7: 30 minutes
  • Year 8: 40 minutes
  • Year 9: 50 minutes

KS4 Homework

Typically all subjects will set approximately 1 hour of work a week for homework. However, when coursework is ongoing this will rise to 1.5 hours a week.

KS5 Homework

Typically all subjects will set approximately 1 hour of work following on from each hour lesson.

All homework will be set via Edulink. 

Students are expected to hand in their homework on time and at the required standard. Teachers will follow the school’s homework policy where homework is not submitted and use the rewards system to celebrate positive contributions.

Teachers will assess homework in different ways depending on the nature of work and department policy. Some examples of how homework may be assessed are through peer marking, self-assessment, teacher assessment, group work or through automatic online marking.

Homework Support

Homework Breakfast Club

Students have the opportunity to have a free breakfast at the canteen every morning whilst completing their homework. 

Homework Incentive

Students are rewarded for being consistent with completing their homework. 

Homework Workshop

Students complete their homework after school at the request of their class teacher.