Homework
Why do we set home learning tasks? Research conducted by the Education Endowment Fund shows home learning can boost pupil progress by up to five months with self-regulation and learning strategies boosting pupil progress by up to 7 months. The benefits of home learning include: development of independent learning strategies, opportunities to practice and consolidate skills, conduct in-depth inquiry, prepare for lessons and develop effective revision strategies for exams.
How can parents help with homework?
- You can’t be an expert in every subject your child learns about at school. But you can help them become good learners and form good habits for learning.
- Help them organise their time, set goals and delay rewards until work is complete.
- Check the Synergy assignments section for information about the home learning set.
- When they get stuck, encourage them to look back at their notes and knowledge goal booklets or look for patterns in similar problems. Then, encourage them to seek help from their class teacher.
Where is homework set?
All homework is recorded on Synergy as an assignment where you will be able to see the following information:
- Subject – Which subject has set the homework assignment
- Title – The name of the home learning assignment set
- Task – A short description of what the assignment entails and where it can be found
- Due date – When the home learning assignment is due
- Status – Once completed students should tick the ‘To do’ check box
You can access Synergy here SchoolSynergy ~ Login. Students access Synergy using their Microsoft 365 account details.
Additional useful links are below and use the same log in details:
Typical home learning tasks
| Reading | Reading novels Reading key texts and literature Reading articles | Language and literacy provide the building blocks for not just academic success but fulfilling careers and rewarding lives (Education Endowment Foundation). Reading helps improve vocabulary, communication, grammar, and writing skills. |
| Retrieval | Knowledge organisers Quizzes Self-testing Flashcards Cornell notes | These tasks prompt students to recall and remember key information. The more students practice retrieval, the more likely information will stick and remain in long-term memory for easier retrieval. |
| Practice | Practice of skills Rehearsal of lines Practice of dance moves Music practice for performance pieces | Practice makes perfect! Repeated practice helps students remember skills and form lasting neurological connections. |
| Consolidation | Extended written responses to a question Producing a piece of work demonstrating understanding of a topic or concept | These tasks require students to demonstrate their understanding of what they learned. Extended responses test the ability to apply knowledge and deepen their understanding. |
| Preparation | Reading a vocab list Watching a video tutorial or documentary Listening to audio content | These activities help students develop curiosity and interest before new material is introduced. Pre-learning can help reduce cognitive load during lessons and enable more knowledge to be encoded and stored in long-term memory. |
Home learning by subject at Key Stage 3
Click on any of the subjects below for a summary of home learning for Key Stage 3 students.
As a fully practical subject, students are asked to complete a practical homework. This is usually completion of a piece of worked planned or started during the lesson, most commonly an artist research page.
In Key Stage 3, pupils are will complete knowledge consolidations tasks based on the knowledge organisers found on the school website or retrieval quizzes set using Microsoft forms. Class teachers will show pupils how to access the home learning during the lesson and explain the task to be completed. Students will need their school Microsoft 365 login in order to access tasks set.
For each topic there will be one research or key word retrieval quiz-based home learning task. Other home learning tasks will be preparation for assessments i.e line learning, script writing or collation of props/costumes.
In Key Stage 3, the homework set is predominantly reading-focused with tests done throughout the year to measure reading comprehension and progress. Home learning tasks include daily reading targets, vocabulary quizzes set via Microsoft Forms and, for students who wish to extend their understanding further, the knowledge organisers are designed to enhance and consolidate knowledge of key concepts. Class teachers will show pupils how to access the home learning during the lesson and explain the task to be completed. Students will need their school Microsoft 365 login in order to access tasks set.
In Key Stage 3, students will complete knowledge consolidations tasks based on the knowledge organisers found on the school website this can range from revision cards, mind maps or flash cards. Class teachers will show pupils how to access the home learning during the lesson and explain the task to be completed. Students will be expected to prepare and bring in their ingredients for their practical lessons to develop their skills.
In Key Stage 3, pupils will complete mini-research projects that complement their learning in class. These are broken down into steps that include research, presentation and summary activities to help them answer a Big Question. They will submit their response to the Big Question. Class teachers will show pupils how to access the home learning during lesson and explain the tasks to be completed. Students will need their school Microsoft 365 login in order to access the tasks set.
In Key Stage 3, pupils will complete mini-research projects that complement their learning in class by finding out about events taking place in other parts of the world at the same time period. These are known as ‘Meanwhile, elsewhere’. These are broken down into steps that include research, source work and interpretation activities. Class teachers will show pupils how to access the home learning during lesson and explain the tasks to be completed. Students will need their school Microsoft 365 login in order to access the tasks set.
In Key Stage 3, pupils are set a homework task on MathsWatch every Wednesday due the following Wednesday. If a student needs help, they can watch a video for each question which will explain how to do it. We also have homework support 12.30pm-1pm in Room 1 each Thursday for Y7 and 8 and each Friday for Y9.
At KS3, pupils are expected to learn vocabulary and become familiar with the rules of the Spanish language. Home learning tasks will usually consist of vocabulary practice using applications such as Quizlet; students may also be given grammar exercises and reading tasks to complete, or voice recordings in Spanish to produce in order to consolidate their learning.
In key stage 3 Music, pupils’ home learning will broadly take 2 forms: 1) Students will be asked to listen to a proscribed piece of music and will be given a short quiz to answer in order to check their understanding of a theme/topic/piece of knowledge 2) Students will be set practical based tasks and will need to come to the music room to book a practice room or use keyboards to practice for a performance or part thereof.
In Key Stage 3, students will be asked to review their progress across a number of sporting activities on a half-termly basis. Students will self assess themselves against ‘I can’ objectives which are found in the knowledge organisers. From this they will set targets for the next term’s activities.
In Key Stage 3, pupils will complete mini-research projects that complement and enrich their learning and understanding of the topics covered in PRE. These are broken down into different options and ways to respond that may include taking photographs, creative writing or even meditating. Class teachers will show pupils how to access the home learning during lesson and explain the tasks to be completed. Students will need their school Microsoft 365 login in order to access the tasks set.
Home learning tasks are used to help students consolidate what they have been learning in class, so that they are better prepared for future lessons. Students will complete knowledge consolidations tasks using the knowledge organisers found on the school website. Students will be shown how to access these in their science lessons. Tasks set will include leaning the spelling and meanings of key terms, making flashcards and mind-maps, and preparing for short quizzes or assessments. Students will be taught how to complete these tasks. Reward points will be given for students who have engaged well with set tasks.
In Key Stage 3, pupils are expected to use the knowledge organisers found on the school website and make mind maps/frayer models/revision cards to aid their recall of class theory in addition to preparation for their end of Rotation Assessment. Class teachers will direct students to the knowledge organisers. Recall knowledge will be assessed through Do Now Activities.
Knowledge Goals Booklets, Years 7 – 9
To boost the knowledge you gain in the classroom, we’ve put together half-termly guides to help you stay on track when learning at home.
Your Knowledge Goals Booklet provides the essential knowledge that you need to learn in each subject this half term. You are expected to spend one hour a night during the week ‘learning’ the content. You will be assessed during lessons using ‘low stake’ quizzing. Your teacher may choose to set you additional homework.
Skip this section and head further down the page if you’re looking for tools to help with revision.
Home learning by subject at Key Stage 4
Click on any of the subjects below for a summary of home learning for Key Stage 4 students.
Home learning is ongoing in KS4. Students are working on coursework projects and are given a week-by-week checklist of tasks to complete at the start of the project, reminders and more details are posted on TEAMS as the project progresses.
Home learning tasks will be set based on the specific topic and the exam specification being studied. This will take the form of a Seneca assignment, Microsoft Forms quiz or Teams-based documents on which the student can work directly. Class teachers will show students where to access the home learning during the lesson and explain the task to be completed. Students will need their school Microsoft 365 login in order to access tasks set.
Home leaning tasks will be set based on the specific topic and the exam specification being studied. This will take the form of a Seneca assignment, Microsoft Forms quiz or paper-based work sheet. Class teachers will show pupils how to access the home learning during the lesson and explain the task to be completed. Students will need their school Microsoft 365 login in order to access tasks set.
Dependent upon the component that is being worked on. Script writing/research/rehearsal for devising. Practice questions for Component 3. Working on and revising coursework
Rehearsal/line learning for scripted component.
Home leaning tasks will be revision-based and set based on the specific topic and the exam specification being studied. This will take the form of a Seneca assignment, Microsoft Forms quiz or paper-based work sheet. Class teachers will show pupils how to access the home learning during the lesson and explain the task to be completed. Students will need their school Microsoft 365 login and access to Seneca in order to access tasks set.
Home learning tasks will be set based on the point at which students are in the curriculum. Year 10 Autumn term – Teams-based documents on which the student can work directly linked to practicing the upcoming controlled assessment. Year 10 Spring term – Teams-based documents on which the student can work directly linked to additional research for first controlled assessment (students are not permitted to work directly on controlled assessment at home). Year 10 Summer Term – Teams based activities based on specific topic for the BTEC exam. Year 11 Autumn Term – Teams-based documents on which the student can work directly linked to additional research for second controlled assessment (students are not permitted to work directly on controlled assessment at home). Year 11 Spring/Summer Term – Teams based activities based on specific topic for the BTEC exam. In all cases, class teachers will show students where to access the home learning during the lesson and explain the task to be completed. Additionally, students can access 3 Knowledge Organise overing all three components of the syllabus directly from their class Team. This allows students to extend their knowledge beyond their area of direct learning. Students will need their school Microsoft 365 login in order to access tasks set.
For KS4, students use their knowledge organisers and produce a set of flashcards or a mindmap on the topic provided that is relevant to the course. Dependent upon the time of year, the topic could be linked to their unit 1 exam knowledge or to their unit 2 NEA coursework. Students are also expected to prepare themselves with their ingredients as part of their home learning to ensure they are developing their practical skills and accurate measuring for portion control.
Home learning tasks are broken down into 4 sections – prepare, review, revise and practice. The Prepare task is a short Seneca assignment on content to be covered in the coming week. The Review task is a short task reviewing the previous lessons learning with suggestions on how to do this. The Revise task is focused on generating revision resources from content that has been learnt earlier in the course. The Practice task applies knowledge and understanding to exam style questions. Each task is designed to take 15 minutes. Class teachers will show pupils how to access home learning during lessons and explain the tasks to be completed. Students will need their school Microsoft 365 login to access tasks set.
Home leaning tasks will be set based on the specific topic and the exam specification being studied. This will take the form of a Seneca assignment, Microsoft Forms quiz or paper-based work sheet. Class teachers will show pupils how to access the home learning during the lesson and explain the task to be completed. Students will need their school Microsoft 365 login in order to access tasks set.
Home learning tasks are broken down into 4 sections – prepare, review, revise and practice. The Prepare task is a short Seneca assignment on content to be covered in the coming week. The Review task is a short task reviewing the previous lessons learning with suggestions on how to do this. The Revise task is focused on generating revision resources from content that has been learnt earlier in the course. The Practice task applies knowledge and understanding to exam style questions. Each task is designed to take 15 minutes. Class teachers will show pupils how to access home learning during lessons and explain the tasks to be completed. Students will need their school Microsoft 365 login to access tasks set.
Home learning tasks will be set based on the specific topics from the course, these will range from Microsoft Form Quizzes, paper-based work sheets and a website called Know it All Ninja. This will allow students regular consolidation throughout the course. Students will be provided with their log-in details for Know it All Ninja, and be shown how to access assignments set.
Year 10 pupils are set a homework task on MathsWatch every Wednesday due the following Wednesday. If a student needs help, they can watch a video for each question which will explain how to do it. We also have homework support for Y10 12.30-1 in Room 1 on Friday. Year 11 pupils are set half a GCSE paper every Monday due the following Monday. Students are expected to complete as much as they can independently in one colour pen. They should then scan the QR code on the front of the paper to watch a video tutorial on how to do any question they couldn’t do and make corrections to their paper using a different colour pen. Alternatively, students can also get support by joining live tutorials with Hannah Kettle on TikTok who will go through the paper (Foundation tier Thursday 7pm-7.45pm, Higher tier Thursday 7.45pm-8.30pm).
Home learning is dependent as to where we are in the course at the time. If we are in a PSA window, then students have to complete their PSA work in their lessons, with home learning being focused on research for their PSA. If it is a practical PSA, home learning is all about collecting the resources they will need for their practical. This is the same for the lead up to their Component 3 exam, in which they have to collect, practice and devise their final practical piece, which all needs to be done independently. Outside of PSA windows, we often do Forms quizzes or completing specific research or activity tasks through Teams. All these homework activities are set on Teams and any Teams feedback given is printed out and stuck in the students books. The only requirement for a Media course in the ability to have access to Teams outside of the classroom to complete these tasks.
Modern Foreign Languages At Key Stage 4, home learning gives students opportunities for vocabulary consolidation, and practice and preparation for the GCSE exams. Tasks set will consist of vocabulary learning using applications such as Quizlet. Students will also be set grammar exercises and exam-styled writing tasks. In Year 11, students are expected to complete weekly revision tasks based on the Pearson GCSE revision guide and workbook.
At key stage 4, pupils will be set home learning tasks using a piece of software called ‘Focus on Sound’. They will be directed to a specific area of the website where they will need to log in a complete a ‘lesson’ and then answer the quiz. Students may also be set tasks to bolster the speed at which they can read music. This is in addition to their instrumental/vocal practice which should be a minimum of 20 minutes per instrument per day for students up to grade 5 standard, 30 mins for grade 6, 45 minutes for grade 7 and 1 hour for grade 8.
Home leaning tasks will be set based on the specific topic and the exam specification being studied. This will take the form of a Seneca assignment, Microsoft Forms quiz or paper-based work sheet. Class teachers will show pupils how to access the home learning during the lesson and explain the task to be completed. Students will need their school Microsoft 365 login in order to access tasks set.
Home learning tasks are broken down into 4 sections – prepare, review, revise and practise. The Prepare task is a short Seneca assignment on content to be covered in the coming week. The Review task is a short task reviewing the previous lessons learning with suggestions on how to do this. The Revise task is focused on generating revision resources from content that has been learnt earlier in the course. The Practise task applies knowledge and understanding to exam style questions. Each task is designed to take 15 minutes. Class teachers will show pupils how to access home learning during lessons and explain the tasks to be completed. Students will need their school Microsoft 365 login to access tasks set.
Home learning tasks are used to help students consolidate what they have been learning in class, so that they are better prepared for future lessons. Students will complete most of the home learning using the Seneca Learning platform. New assignments will be set every other Monday, and students have two weeks to complete. Each assignment will consist of 20-30 minutes of questions, relating to topics covered so far in the course. Students will be shown how to use the Seneca Learning platform in their science lessons. Parents will receive invites allowing them to log into the Seneca Learning platform and monitor the tasks set and completed. From time-to-time, students may also receive other tasks to complete, e.g. revision for an end of unit test, learning key physics equations, reviewing Cognito Science videos, or completing paperwork sheets containing exam questions. Reward points will be given for students who have engaged well with set tasks.
Home learning tasks will be set based on the theory topics of the course. These will take the form of either a Seneca assignment or exam question practice through a paper based task. Class teachers will show students how to access Seneca and direct them to knowledge organisers within Teams to support exam question practice.
