“Homework is not an optional extra, but an essential part of a good education”. -1999 White Paper, Excellence in Schools
“The evidence shows that the impact of homework, on average, is five months additional progress.” (The Education Endowment Foundation)
Homework is defined as work that is set to be done outside of the timetabled curriculum. It contains an element of independent study and is important not only in developing effective study techniques but also in raising student attainment.
Not all homework is done at home; in fact, for some students who find it hard to work at home, or for some tasks which may require resources (books, software, equipment) more readily available at school, it is necessary or desirable to carry out the task at school. Homework enhances student learning, improves achievement, and develops students’ study skills and as such is an integral part of the curriculum. It requires careful planning and integration into the scheme of work of each curriculum area.
Homework is set to:
- Encourage pupils to develop effective study skills and time management techniques and the self-discipline needed to be lifelong learners.
- Consolidate, reinforce, and extend the material covered in lessons.
- Prepare students for new learning activities.
- Enhance opportunities for independent learning
- Involve parents and carers in pupil learning
- Create channels for home-school dialogue
Therefore, homework at The West Grantham Secondary Academy meets at least one of these core principles:
- Embed – consolidate learning that has taken place in the classroom e.g. revision for assessment or learning key knowledge
- Practice – refine knowledge and procedures learnt in the classroom based on feedback from the teacher e.g. redrafting or improving work
- Extend – move learning beyond what has been achieved in the classroom e.g. adding breadth to existing knowledge
- Apply – use learning from the classroom to complete a specific task e.g. writing a practice exam question based on content covered in the lesson.
- Prepare – Look ahead to future learning e.g. researching a given topic prior to the lesson