Homework

At Queen’s Park High School, homework forms an integral part of our students' education. It serves to enhance the skills, knowledge and understanding which are essential for intellectual development. We firmly believe that homework is an opportunity to consolidate learning, prepare students for further study and help students to become independent learners who value their own studies. At Key Stage 4 it forms an integral part of our examination courses, serving to support students to learn and revise material in preparation for their external assessments.

Homework is set in line with our policy to enable students to:

Show progress and understanding
Develop research skills
Have an opportunity for independent work
Enhance their study skills e.g. planning, time management and self discipline
Take ownership and responsibility for their learning
Engage parental co-operation and support
Create channels for home school dialogue

Expectations

When will homework be set?

For each Year Group, homework will be set according to a homework timetable (see attachments below) which students receive at the start of the year. This timetable is for guidance only and some variation may occur with regards to the day when homework is set in order to maximise learning.

As a guide, students should be set on average two or three homework tasks a week + independent study.

homework tasks

Homework can be:

Years 7-9

Literacy homework to consolidate your learning of new vocabulary
Educake (maths and science)
Extended Learning Projects (ELPs) to help you develop your understanding and love of a subject outside of the main curriculum content
Tasks chosen by subject teachers to enhance learning

Years 10-13

Independent learning
Consolidation of work in class
Practise – learning by doing
Completion of coursework assignments
Research
Reading
Interviews
Drawing
Using ICT
Recording

It is important that students should have frequent and increasing opportunities to develop and consolidate their competencies as independent learners.

organisation of homework

Homework is set using our online system, Synergy, which allows students and tutors to track tasks and ensure nothing is missed.

For English, Maths and Science, students will regularly use an online platform called Educake. This uses the same login details as the school computer system, making it easy to access. Educake provides instant feedback, and enables teachers to quickly identify where additional support may be needed.

In other subjects, homework will vary and will be closely linked to classroom learning, ensuring that tasks reinforce and build upon what has been taught.

Homework tasks set can be viewed via Synergy, which both students and parents can log in to using unique accounts – parent accounts are different to student accounts. This also shows the students’ timetable which will indicate the class they are in for each subject. If you require your unique login details, please contact the school via phone or email: ictsupport@qphs.co.uk to request them.

Reading & Literacy

We place a strong emphasis on reading and will encourage students to read every day.

Where students may need additional support, they may take part in guided reading sessions, and parents/carers will be invited to support this at home. There may also be opportunities for students to receive additional support with spelling and handwriting, where appropriate.

Developing independence & rewarding effort

Students also have the opportunity to complete Extended Learning Projects (see attachments at the bottom of this page), which are longer, student-led tasks linked to subjects they are particularly interested in. These projects are worth 20 reward points and are designed to develop independence, creativity and deeper learning.

We encourage all students to take pride in their work. High-quality homework is recognised through our reward points system, which can build towards Gold Star awards.

We are working closely with our student leaders to continue refining our approach to homework, ensuring it is both effective and engaging.

Non-Completion of homework

When homework has not been done, appropriate action will be taken by the Curriculum area. This could include an after-school detention. Parents/carers will be notified in advance of an after-school detention via Synergy, so they can make arrangements for their child to get home safely. The after-school detention will last no longer than one hour.

School's responsibilities with regards to homework

The subject teacher is responsible for setting appropriate homework and giving feedback to students – this might take the form of ‘live feedback’ where the students receive verbal feedback during a lesson. Teachers should record completion of homework on Synergy.

Curriculum Team Leaders are responsible for ensuring that all teachers in their Faculty are setting appropriate homework regularly, giving feedback and marking it as submitted on Synergy. This should be checked as part of the ongoing quality assurance of faculties.

The Library Learning Centre (LLC) will be open until 4pm each day for students to complete homework.

Parents/carers role in homework

Parents/carers should support students with their homework, but accept that their role will become less and less important as students become more responsible and independent
Parents/carers should try to provide a reasonable place where students can work or encourage them to use the school facilities
Parents/carers should encourage students to meet homework deadlines
If parents/carers feel that insufficient or too much homework is being set, they should contact their child’s form tutor in the first instance, who will investigate the situation
Parents/carers should make it clear to students that they value homework and support the school in explaining how it can help them progress
Parents/carers should encourage students and praise them when work is completed

Students' responsibilities

We want homework to be purposeful and conducive to the development of learning.

Students need to meet deadlines
Students in Years 7-9 must complete tasks as set out in their homework timetable.
Students in Year 10 and above must complete all homework set by their teachers.
Students are to complete their homework via Synergy and confirm they have completed it by ticking the appropriate box.
If students are absent, they need to find out what work they have missed and catch up on it. Being away /absent on a day that homework is set is not an excuse for not doing it
Problems with homework should be resolved before the deadline. If necessary, students should see the member of staff concerned for help
Students should take pride in doing their best