Homework
It
is school policy to set pupils homework in order to support coursework,
to increase their overall understanding, to give us further evidence of
their progress, to help them develop necessary skills in independent study
and personal organisation and sometimes to undertake tasks which cannot
be done in school. The support of parents in encouraging pupils to do
homework carefully and thoroughly is of paramount importance. It is our
experience that the pupils who achieve the most during their career at
school are usually those whose parents have taken an active interest in
their progress.
Pupils are given a homework timetable at the start of each school year. This shows the approximate length of time they are expected to spend each week on homework in each subject. The precise length of time actually spent will depend on the pupil, the subject in question and the type of assignment that has been set. In Years 10 and 11, the amount of homework will depend on the subjects pupils have chosen, the stage of the course and the number of public examinations they will take.
At the start of each school year, all pupils are given a school planner in which they must record all the homework they are set and the date by which it is to be completed. Parents are asked to sign the planner once a week. Not all homework assignments will be written ones.
There are many kinds of task which may be set, including drawing, making something, planning or preparing for a task, reading, learning, personal research, revision for tests or examinations, watching a particular television programme or using the internet to find information.
One of the reasons why we regulate the amount of homework set is that we encourage the pupils to involve themselves in other out-of-school activities (sport, music, scouts, guides, etc). These provide interest and relaxation and we want pupils to have time to enjoy them. At the same time, we insist that all pupils fulfil their homework commitments and discipline those who do not. The Learning Support Department is available to pupils at lunch break for advice on homework.
If parents are concerned about their child's homework, they should contact the group tutor who will bring the matter to the attention of the Head of Department or Head of House as appropriate.