Homework
Homework can be a point of anxiety for students and parents. However, at Hitchin Girls’ School, homework is used:
- to encourage curiosity and wider reading/learning
- as training for good working habits
- to provide challenge for all students
- to allow consolidation and further practice
- for revision
- to encourage students to develop independence and confidence
- to encourage students to develop organisational skills
- to encourage students to manage their time sensibly
- to prepare students for future learning
- to encourage students to commit themselves to do their best.
Frequency & Organisation
- Key Stage 3: Up to one hour per week for English, Maths and Science; up to 30 minutes per week for other subjects. Advice should be given to students on how long they should spend on a task.
- Key Stage 4: No limit to homework set, but staff need to be aware of pressure points on the calendar. Advice should be given to students on how long they should spend on a task.
- Key Stage 5: Students should complete five hours of study per subject per week. This includes timetabled study periods.
- Students should indicate homework in their exercise books/folders with ‘H/W’.
- If students choose to exceed the recommended time to be spent on a piece of work, they should indicate the additional time spent alongside ‘H/W’.
- All homework is to be indicated in Google Classroom, in a designated Homework topic, not in the Stream.
- Students should record their homework in their planner. (This is in addition to work being indicated on Google Classroom, but will be reviewed, along with Student Planner usage).
- Not all homework will necessarily be marked or assessed.
Essentials
- Each student should know why they are doing the homework, what they need to do to complete their homework to a good standard, and have an indication of how long they should spend on it.
- Challenge for all - Each member of staff should know that they can set a range of homework activities, differentiated when necessary.
- When setting homework, teachers should take into account any SEND needs.
- Homework should not be set at the end of the lesson. There must always be time for students to accurately record, understand and ask any relevant questions.
- Homework should only be set if it is appropriate and relevant for learning. It should be a natural extension of the current learning.
- Homework should not create unnecessary or superfluous marking for teaching staff.
- Staff should be mindful of students’ additional commitments, both in and out of school, when setting deadlines.
