Homework

The Purpose of Homework

To reinforce, revise, review and extend work done in class
To show progress and understanding
To raise the standard of achievement
To encourage independent learning and develop the skills and attitudes needed for lifelong learning
To support a valuable link between home and the school
To develop students' ability to organise and manage their time well as well as a sense of responsibility and self-discipline in terms of their own learning

At Belvidere School, we have a high expectation of the standard of homework set and the quality of the work completed by students at home. We value the work and the effort students put into their work. Learning at home is a valuable part of a good education and is an integral part of the curriculum.
Homework should not prevent students from participating in activities after school.
Tasks might include the following:

homewotk tasks

Time Allocated for Homework

This is a guideline for the amount of time that students should spend on their homework per subject per night:
homework times

Each student is allocated a homework timetable clearly showing which subject will be set on which night. Most subjects have one piece of work set per week, with the exception of art, drama and music at KS3 where homework is set once a fortnight.
In years 10 and 11, this is a guideline and times may increase at certain times of the year for example to accommodate preparation for controlled assessments or revision for exams.
Sometimes the work set will be short and for immediate completion and on other occasions, it may consist of an extended piece of work to be completed over several weeks.

Homework Timetables

Year 7 Homework Timetable
Year 8 Homework Timetable
Year 9 Homework Timetable
Year 10 Homework Timetable
Year 11 Homework Timetable

Homework Guidelines for Students

You will be allocated a homework timetable and a homework diary at the start of September. Please ensure that you stick your homework timetable carefully into your homework diary.
You will be set homework regularly and in accordance with the homework timetable.
You must bring your diary to school with you every day. At the beginning of the week, use your homework timetable to write in the subject titles on the correct day, ready to write your homework next to it.
You should write all homework in your diaries neatly and clearly. If you would like help from a member of staff, then please ask them to help you. Please include all detail of the homework set, including when it is due in.
Please make sure that you fully understand the homework instructions that have been set and ask your teacher for help if you are not sure.
Plan your time effectively; try to do your homework as soon as possible on the night it is set and do not leave it until the last minute. Make sure that it is all handed in on time as well as doing your best with all of it.
If you do not understand your homework, please speak to your subject teacher at the first opportunity; please do not leave this until the last minute, in order to ask for help.
Homework is not optional and teachers will check that it is being completed regardless of whether you or staff are writing targets for improvement. Failure to complete homework will be seen as a cause for concern and sanctions, such as detentions are likely to be used. If you are absent when it is due to be handed in, then you are expected to hand it in to your teacher at the next possible opportunity.
Homework is also recorded on our ClassCharts platform. This is an online system which we use to track the achievement, behaviour and homework of our students. Each child and parent have a unique access code which we will issue at the start of term. Students and parents can also use the APP to track and monitor the homework that has been set each week. Login in to class charts here....

How is Homework Marked

Marking will focus on how students can improve their work using targets for improvement. Staff should be using a comments only approach to marking, using a common key which is known to students, staff and parents.
KEY:
√ What you have done well
T Targets for improvement-what you can do to improve

e.g.
√ Excellent workings, your graphs are clear and accurate
T Always remember to label both the x and y axes to give your graph meaning.

In addition, within a piece of work, staff may use other codes which again will be known to all students, staff and parents, as follows:

Code	Meaning	Code	Meaning
√	What you have done well	CP	Class point-to go over in class
T	Targets for Improvement what you can do to improve	NP	New paragraph
U	Underline your title with a ruler	Sen	Write in full sentences
Sp	Spelling correction needed	HP	House Point
W	Show all of your workings	MIC	Marked in class
E	Explain and develop your ideas more fully	TA	Teacher assessed
RTQ	Read the question	PA	Peer assessed
^	Missing word	SA	Self assessed

Support with homework:

Students should ensure that they fully understand the homework when it is first set, asking the teacher for help if necessary. If they find a piece of homework difficult, they should speak to their teacher at the first opportunity, not leaving it until the last minute, in order to ask for help.

Homework Hubs

We provide two homework hubs, Breakfast Homework Hub and Afterschool Homework Hub for students to sit and complete their homework, with friends, in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Computers are available and support if required. During the Breakfast session, students can enjoy a snack and drink while they are working.

All breakfast Homework Hub sessions are from 8.00-8.30am Monday to Friday in the Alcoa Building.

After-school Homework Hub sessions run Monday to Thursday from 3.05-4.00pm in the following rooms:
Years 8 and 10 in Room 15C
Years 7, 9 and 11 in the Alcoa Building

How you can help your child with their homework

The support of parents and carers is essential with homework, through encouragement, help and monitoring. This can be done by:

monitoring homework and asking them to explain what they have been studying
listening to them and reading what they have written
checking presentation, handwriting and spelling
testing them on learning homework
checking and signing their homework diary
suggesting an appropriate time and place, without distractions, to complete their homework on time and to a good standard.
praising students when homework is completed on time and to a good standard

Parents are encouraged to use the homework diary to write comments to the form tutor or teacher regarding any problems with any homework.
If you feel that your child is spending too long on a piece of homework, please make a note either on the piece of work or in the homework diary, to let us know.