Homework

Homework is a key element of learning at ECS. All students are expected to complete homework set by their teachers, according to the school’s homework policy. Each student’s effort in homework completion will be recorded in each data window and shared with parents. We believe that homework is important because:

• It reinforces the learning that takes place in the classroom
• It broadens knowledge and enables students to practise subject specific skills
• It teaches students to learn independently
• It teaches students time management skills
• It prepares them for further study

Homework can be in the form of weekly tasks and/or half-termly ISBLs (Independent Skills-Based Learning projects usually completed over several weeks) and will be varied and differentiated to cater for a range of abilities. Homework tasks could include:

•  written exercises
• conducting research
• pre-reading and annotating
• drafting, re-drafting,
• writing presentations
• completing online tasks
• structured revision

Teachers set homework on Arbor, and parents can see what homework has been set (and what has been completed) via the Arbor Parent Portal, or Arbor Parent App, and can download documents to support their child. Students are also required to write the key information about each homework task they are set in their Learning Journal, including the due date.   This is not only to ensure teachers fully explain the homework to students, but also to help students engage with the work they are being set, and to help them be organised and plan their time carefully.  Tutors will check Learning Journals on a weekly basis, and parents/carers are also expected to have signed them weekly.

The benefits of students using a Learning Journal are that it:

•  Improves memory and retention
•  Builds responsibility and ownership
•  supports time management
•  Reduces screen dependence
•  Supports executive function development

How we set homework at ECS:

• Homework will be set once a week, per subject as follows:

• KS3:  1 hour for Maths/Science/English; 30 minutes for all other subjects
• KS4:  1 hour 30 minutes for Maths/Science/English; 45 minutes for all other subjects
• KS5:  3 hours per subject

• At Key Stage 4, teachers should be setting ‘two-part’ homework, consisting of a ‘past’, and ‘present’ tasks, i.e. a revision task and a practice / consolidation / essay task.

• At Key Stage 5, teachers should be setting ‘three-part’ homework, consisting of ‘past’, ‘present’ and ‘future’ tasks, i.e. a revision task and a practice / consolidation / essay task and a research task / pre-reading / preparation task.

In addition, students should read for at least 30 minutes each day and should have a reading book in their school bag at all times.

Students who do not submit their homework on time can expect a 15-minute detention with their subject teacher on the day the homework was due.  Repeated failure to submit homework will result in a longer Faculty detention.

Students who do not have access to a computer at home are able to use school computers in the library, or in homework club after school.