Homework

There has been extensive research on the use and benefit of homework and whilst there are some discrepancies on its effectiveness between Primary and Secondary, the impact at Key Stage 3 and 4 in improving attainment has been established.

This becomes particularly important as students become more cognitively independent and are more able to better organise their time and the resources needed for homework, as well as comprehend instructions, understand the cognitive processes needed, and appreciate the purpose of the tasks set. Starting good habits with homework at Year 7 significantly supports improved outcomes in Year 11.

At Hadlow Rural Community School we allow subject leaders to adapt the homework to suit the curriculum content they are teaching. The type of homework may vary from subject to subject and may also vary in style within a subject. For example, it may be traditional written work, a project over time, revision for a test, research, homework requiring the use of ICT or some form of practical work.

We expect all students to complete the homework set by subject teachers and to return it by the agreed deadline.

Homework is set through the use of Satchel:One, and allows the school and parents to track the homework that is being set.

Research supports that homework of about 1-2 hours per school day provides an optimum amount (with the amounts progressively increasing from Year 7 - 11), with the impact of homework generally diminishing for periods extending beyond this.

HRCS expectations require homework to be set within a two-week period, per subject, per evening, as follows:

To support a sensible distribution of homework and manage both staff and student workload, homework timetables will be established for each teaching group, based on teaching staff allocations.