It is widely recognised that homework can make an important contribution to students’ progress. At Salesian School, it is felt that work completed at home is an essential part of school work. When homework is used properly, it extends the challenge open to the students and ensures that teaching time in school is used to maximum effect. It also prepares students gradually for the more independent demands of study as they mature.
We set homework for the following reasons:
- It encourages students to develop the skills, confidence, and motivation needed to study effectively on their own. This is vital given the importance of lifelong learning skills and adaptability.
- It consolidates and reinforces skills and understandings developed at school.
- It extends school learning.
- It allows teachers to plan for the best use of lesson time by sometimes setting preparatory homework.
- It sustains the involvement of parents in students’ learning and keeps them in touch with what is happening in the classroom.
- It helps students manage particular demands, such as GCSE coursework.
The Amount of Homework
We want to make sure that the homework set is as engaging and as useful as it possibly can be.
The intrinsic value of homework activities is far more important than the precise time devoted to them. However, below is an indication of broad expectations of how much time should be spent on homework.
KS3 (Years 7 – 9)
Students should expect regular homework from: English, Maths, Science, RE and MFL – approximately 45 minutes per subject, per week.
Students should also expect fortnightly homework from Geography and History – approximately 45 minutes per subject, per fortnight.
Other subjects will not return ‘homework’ grades in Grade Collections but may set occasional homework to meet the needs of their curriculum.
KS4 (Years 10 – 11)
All subjects studied will set weekly homework proportional to the amount of lessons they have. Students can expect to have an average of 1.5 to 2 hours of homework per evening.
