Homework and Revision

Homework

Please remind your child to check their Student Planner/Arbor for homework tasks. Teachers will always announce homework in class and will set a reasonable deadline. If students feel that they might miss a deadline, they should speak to their teacher.

The Purpose of Homework

The purpose of homework is to develop long-term, independent, retention of knowledge, understanding and ability.

The Design of Homework

Homework tasks must:

• Consciously reinforce curriculum content through retrieval practice

Or

• Pre-load information ahead of first teaching of curriculum content

Accessibility

Homework tasks must:

• Be accessible to all learners and relevant to their needs
• Be mindful of resource access e.g. internet connection
• Be varied in style and method of completion
• Allow sufficient time for completion
• KS3 up to 30 minutes per subject per week
• KS4 up to 60 minutes per subject per week
• Be set via Arbor and recorded in student planners

Value

• Teachers will promote the value of independent study by:
• Setting tasks relevant to stated curriculum aims and goals
• Explaining the learning objectives to students
• Relating homework tasks to the broader scheme of work/sequence
• Maintaining consistency within departments/subjects
• Providing feedback on tasks completed (written or verbal)

GCSEPod 

All KS4 students have access to GCSEPod, an online revision platform designed to support students in consolidating and reviewing key GCSE content.

GCSEPod provides a wide range of short, focused videos covering key topics across many of the subjects we offer. The content is aligned to students’ specific exam boards, ensuring that they are revising the appropriate material for their courses.

Students can use GCSEPod to:
• Review key content through concise, engaging videos
• Create personalised playlists to support their revision
• Download content for revision away from the internet
• Access resources both at home and in school

Our Science and PE departments regularly set homework through GCSEPod, so we encourage parents and carers to ensure that their child knows how to access and use the platform effectively.

Students who wish to use GCSEPod in school can access computers in the Library at break and lunchtime, as well as during Homework Club.

If you have any questions about GCSEPod or accessing the platform, please contact Mr Norris.

Access GCSEPod here:  Login

English Revision Resources – Years 10 & 11

We would like to remind students, parents and carers of the range of resources available to support students with their GCSE English Language and English Literature studies.

A key resource for all Year 10 and 11 students is our English Virtual Classroom – an interactive revision hub containing a wide range of resources, including:

• Past papers for both English Language and English Literature
• Past-paper walkthrough videos to help students understand how to approach exam questions
• A quotation-learning tool to support recall of key Literature quotations
• Video lessons and exam walkthroughs for each of our set Literature texts
• Support for unseen poetry and other key areas of the GCSE courses

Students can access the Virtual Classroom through Microsoft Teams, via the GCSE English Revision Team.

The Virtual Classroom is not just for revision immediately before an examination. It is an excellent resource for consolidating classroom learning, revisiting areas students are less confident with and catching up independently on any learning they may have missed.

For Year 11, there is particular importance in beginning revision now. Students will sit English Language Paper 1 and English Literature Paper 1 as part of their mock examinations at the end of November/beginning of December. We strongly encourage Year 11 students to begin making regular use of these resources now, allowing plenty of time to revisit key knowledge and practise examination skills ahead of the mocks.

For Year 10, now is an ideal time to begin developing small, manageable revision habits and becoming familiar with the resources that will support them throughout their GCSE courses.

Students also have access to GCSEPod, which provides short, focused videos covering key English knowledge and skills. In addition, all Year 10 and Year 11 students will be loaned a CGP English Language Revision Guide for the academic year, giving them a physical resource that can be used both at home and in school.

We would be very grateful for parents' and carers' support in encouraging students to make regular use of the revision resources available to them. Short, purposeful periods of revision carried out regularly can make a significant difference to students' knowledge, confidence and preparedness for assessments and examinations.