Please also see the Academy Homework Policy. Bespoke homework policies are devised at department level, as subject leaders know what works best in different areas. However, there are some non-negotiables and some advice on good practice below.
Content
Homework is used as a tool to improve knowledge retention and fluency, therefore works well as an extension of, or consolidation of their learning for that day.
Setting homework on online platforms such as Sparx, Seneca and Bedrock works well due to algorithms which re-teach or stretch the students depending on their performance. As such programmes are self-marking, with students receiving immediate feedback.
Students who do not have access to a device will be loaned a Chromebook for their time in school.
Our Knowledge Organisers are bespoke to our curriculum, so self-quizzing and learning from such can also be set for homework, then fed into in ‘do now’ activities. Again, this promotes long term memory and knowledge retrieval.
Timescale
Teachers are to set homework on a chosen day when they teach the class. The regularity is at the discretion of the subject leaders, so for example, subjects who see their students once a fortnight will not set homework as often as the core subjects who see students up to 5 times a fortnight. The DfE guidance is 1.5 hours per evening, so even if all teachers from each lesson set half an hour homework on that one day it will still be within guidelines.
Recording (non-negotiable)
Homework will be recorded on Satchel One, and links can also be made to other digital apps with clear deadline dates. Students are responsible for checking Satchel One and completing tasks before the deadline. Classroom teachers are responsible for checking the completion of homework tasks. Tutors can also check homework completion on Satchel One. Parents can also check homework completion on the Satchel One app.