English, Drama & Media Studies Homework Policy
It is the policy of the school that homework should be set on a regular basis to all students in accordance with their age and ability.
Purpose of homework
Homework is set to allow time for pupils:
to practise skills taught in class
to test those skills without the prop of the teacher
to develop self-reliance; and to improve organisational skills.
Nature of English Homework
We should remember that English homework need not always be written. Indeed, a balance between the ATs Speaking/Listening, Reading and Writing should be the goal. Consequently, the following should be added to the conventional list of extended writing tasks:
essays, reports, narratives, summaries, language analyses, letters, reviews and the like:-
- learning spellings and vocabulary
- reading (preferably a specific chapter or section)
- summary of reading
- reading to elicit specific information
- preparing a talk
- rehearsing a talk
- rehearsing a prepared reading
- planning
- drafting
- sketch/map, spider diagrams, brainstorms
- discussions/working with peers
- interviewing
- surveys
- internet research
- watching/analysing moving images etc.
Parental help with homework
The department values parents’ help and appreciates and welcomes their active interest in their child’s work. Help could be given by active encouragement to re-draft, suggestions for improvement and spellings/punctuation problems being identified. The most valuable asset though is through a willingness to take an interest in discussing the work set.
Setting Homework
- Time should be allowed in a lesson for homework to be explained clearly and slowly, not in a rush at the end of the lesson which creates confusion.
- Diaries should be supervised by teachers so that homework is seen to be entered.
- Teachers should keep a record of homework set in their mark books.
- Where a longer-term assignment covers several homeworks, interim progress should be checked once a week, so that pupils do not leave everything to the end. Make sure all homeworks devoted to such assignments are entered twice a week in the homework diary.
How Much
As a general rule homework for English students should follow this pattern
Years 7, 8 and 9 2 x 30 minutes per week
Years 10 and 11 2 x 45 minutes per week
The nature of the sixth form curriculum and its delivery makes it inappropriate to designate precise time packages for independent study.
It is recommended that only one written homework should be given per week.Never set a homework simply because it is homework night. The homework set must be pertinent, valid and appropriate.
Rewards and Sanctions
(a) Rewards
Good homework can be rewarded in a variety of ways:
- merit marks in KS3
- display in classrooms or corridors
- comments on homework diaries
- praise in the classroom
- work used as exemplar material
(b) Sanctions
Homework poorly completed or not done at all should be followed up in a variety of ways:
- written or spoken comments to students
- short detention
- use of homework diary to alert tutor and parents
- letter to parents (especially regarding coursework)
- referral to HOD/Tutor/HOY as appropriate (only if all the above have failed)
 |
