Homework
Strategic Aim
Individual teachers regularly set high quality homework that is appropriate to the learning needs of individual students informed by robust assessment. Marking and feedback is meaningful and enables students to improve their work further and to make outstanding progress.
Why do we set homework?
We do not set homework for its own sake. We also recognise that the amount of homework set should not prevent students from enjoying quality family time or participating in activities after school such as sport, music or clubs.
We aim to set appropriate and regular homework for the following reasons:
- To encourage students to develop the confidence and self-discipline to work independently.
- To develop, practise and consolidate key skills and understanding.
- To extend school learning, for example, through additional reading.
- To enable students to devote time to extended tasks such as coursework or project work.
- To ensure that students revise effectively and achieve their full potential in examinations.
- To support the home/school relationship.
How much homework should students be getting?
The Marvell College does not have a fixed homework timetable with time allocated for different subjects on different evenings. Instead, teachers follow the guidelines set out below to set regular homework for their subject. Students will need to learn to manage their time so that they do some homework each evening.
The time we expect students to spend on homework per week (including the weekend) increases as they progress through the school.
Students in Years 7 and 8 are expected to have about 4 hours of homework per week.
Students in Years 9 and 10 are expected to have about 6 hours of homework per week.
Students in Year 11 are expected to have about 8 hours per week
How will the setting and checking of homework be administered?
All students have a Student Planner which they should carry with them at all times to record their homework. Tutors and parents/carers are asked to check and sign these on a weekly basis enabling two-way communication between home and school.
Teachers are expected to allow sufficient time in the lesson for students to copy down the task instructions and the submission date into their planners. Teachers are responsible for checking that all students have done this. It is recommended that teachers set the homework task well before the end of the lesson to allow time for students to copy down the task and to answer any questions about the task.
