Homework
Homework is an essential part of the teaching and learning process and supports students’ progress. Homework is significant because it teaches responsibility and helps students develop good study habits. In addition, homework helps to improve students’ long-term memory and better prepares them for the demands of public examinations.
If you require any assistance or support with homework please contact
Miss Roberts (Assistant Headteacher for Teaching and Learning) on: abbie.roberts@iscaexeter.co.uk
Knowledge Organisers
Each student is given a ‘Knowledge Organiser Book’ that contains the core knowledge for every subject they study. Each week, students will use the relevant week in their knowledge organiser to complete their homework. This will support and help them commit their knowledge to memory. The front of their Knowledge Organiser contains some strategies to help them do this. Students are then tested by their teacher at the start of each lesson as part of our Do Now Activities to see how much they can accurately remember.
Building Long-term Memory
Your memory is split into two parts: the working-memory and the long-term memory. Everybody’s working-memory is limited, and can therefore become easily overwhelmed. Your long-term memory, on the other hand, is effectively limitless.
You can support your working memory by storing key facts and processes in long-term memory. These facts and processes can then be retrieved to stop your working memory becoming overloaded.
Knowledge Organisers are a key way to help you learn. Each Knowledge Organisers has the key information that needs to be memorised to help you master your subject and be successful in lessons.
There is strong scientific evidence from cognitive psychology that shows the benefits of self-quizzing in promoting retrieval strength. This is your ability to quickly recall key facts related to your subject or topic.
Setting of homework
Homework schedules are set at the top of each page in the homework booklet. The date at the top of the page, is the date the homework is to be complete. Tutors will then check that homework the following day during their tutor checks; for example if the page says Thursday 17th October, this is the date the homework is to be complete, and it will be checked on Friday 18th October.
Students with additional needs
We have a ‘Concessions System’ this is to enable us to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to both the volume and nature of homework set for students with additional learning needs.
All homework concessions will be agreed by the Inclusion Team and will be clearly explained to your child. A copy of the concession will also be stuck to the inside of their homework booklet.
Homework Sanctions
We want all our students to see the value of homework and, therefore, place a great emphasis on the completion of all homework tasks. It is also really important that students learn to meet deadlines.
If students have not completed their homework on time and to the required standard, they will attend a same day break time detention. If a student doesn't attend they have the opportunity to go at lunchtime. If this isn't attended, students will have an afterschool detention. If this is the case, parents will receive a text message to inform them.
If a student has been unable to complete the work set due to personal reasons, we would ask families to contact the tutor in the first instance.
Support with Homework
The Academy recognises that there are sometimes circumstances where students are unable to complete their studies/homework. Therefore, the library opening hours are extended beyond the normal Academy day (3.10-4.00 from Monday to Thursday), providing students with the support they may need.
Students will require access to a portable device to complete some of their homework (Languages, Maths, English and Science). English, Maths and Science is all on Sparx and students will have the same login link. For languages, students will use Google Classrooms. All login links will be provided by the subject teachers.
If they do not have access to a portable device, please contact your child’s Head of Year in the first instance.
Our Homework Policy can be read HERE.
Homework Support Videos
For help with your homework, have a look at our videos which staff and students have made to help demonstrate some of the common apps and ways of working that we hope students will find useful.