Homework

Homework should promote a greater interest in learning. It should improve students’ independence, and lead them further along the learning journey that they have started in lessons. Evidence suggests that completion of homework leads to the equivalent of five months’ learning. However, this applies to homework that is “done right”. According to the evidence, homework should:  

• be linked to the learning in class  

• be backed up with purpose, which is conveyed to students  

• be of an appropriate level of challenge  

• not take a disproportionate amount of time

• be routine  

With this in mind, at Edgar Wood Academy homework:  

• is an integral part of the planned curriculum for each subject  

• will have a clear purpose which is explained by the class teacher  

• will be adapted for the class where necessary

• follow a set schedule 

Students write their homework in the school planner, and it is also set on Assignments in Microsoft Teams. Parents can look at their child’s Teams account with them to see what homework has been set. KS3 students at Edgar Wood should complete approximately one hour of homework each night. The only circumstances in which they might regularly exceed this should be if they have chosen to go “above and beyond” (for example, in completing another round of self-testing) or if they have chosen to complete an optional stretch task. Homework will never be set for the following day, and will usually be set a full week in advance. 

Homework may be in an exercise book, on a worksheet or online. Where departments choose to set online homework, the chosen website is used consistently in order to aid students’ organisation. Where students have been set homework on a worksheet, for example if the teacher has taken in exercise books for marking, the homework should be stored safely in the student’s work wallet, which is provided by the school.