Over the last two years we have developed a new approach to setting homework at Key Stage 3 which we believe is better for students and clearer for parents to understand. We now intend to take the next step forward to help prepare students for GCSE and beyond.

 

Three or four subjects each week… Allstudents in Years 7, 8 and 9 will be set independent learning tasks (ILTs) instead of traditional short separate homework tasks in nearly all subjects. Maths and foreign languages will continue to set weekly homework tasks as under our previous scheme. All other subjects will set extended tasks designed to take ten hours to complete over two weeks or five hours over a single week. These subjects will appear in turn on the schedule throughout the year. In any one period of two weeks, students will have learning tasks in three or four subjects: Maths, one foreign language in Year 7 and two in Years 8 and 9, and one other subject.

 

The advantages …     We believe there are a number of advantages to our new scheme. We aim to set tasks which genuinely engage and challenge students to achieve. Students will have fewer subjects to manage at any one time, and will be able to devote their energies and imagination to each subject in turn. Independent learning tasks will give them the opportunity to explore ideas and areas of interest, and will reward initiative. Teachers will mark, assess and return work within two weeks of completion.

 

As parents …             As parents you will be better informed both about which subjects are being studied and about the objectives, activities, outcomes and assessment criteria for each ILT. We will publish all materials for ILTs on our website. National Curriculum levels awarded for each ILT will be reported in interim reports or full written reports issued during the year. We will also let you know promptly if your son/daughter fails to submit tasks, or does so to an unacceptable standard, by letter or by email if you are signed up to ParentMail. We would appreciate your support in ensuring that your son/daughter submits all ILTs on time, and that s/he does complete them promptly if you receive information that they have not yet done so.

Learning times …      English and Science will set one extended independent learning task each term; Geography, History and Design and Technology will set two in the year; Music will set three shorter five-hour tasks; and ICT, Art, Drama and Religious Education will set one extended task each year. In total students will therefore have, during the course of the whole year, 30 hours of independent learning in the three core subjects of English, Maths and Science, 20 hours in Geography, History, Design and Technology and each Modern Foreign Language, 15 hours in Music, and 10 hours in ICT, Art, Drama and Religious Education.

 

The structure of ILTs …       For each ILT students will receive a booklet or task sheet which sets out key learning objectives and outcomes. Stimulus material will provide students with a context for learning. Tasks will be staged over the two weeks, and will include a variety of activities: research, reading for information, collecting evidence, interpreting and analysing, recording, designing and creating, drafting, extended writing, the use of different media and technologies, evaluation and celebration. Students will be given opportunities to acquire and practise study skills appropriate to the ILT, which may be linked to learning in lessons or stand by itself. Extension tasks will challenge gifted and talented students to take their learning further.

 

Monitoring and assessment …         The criteria for assessment will be clear and shared with students and parents. During lessons teachers will monitor all students’ progress and offer them guidance on the different stages. Open questions will encourage a range of responses and promote students’ creativity. At the end of the two weeks some ILTs will require students to make a presentation or performance to the class which will be assessed by the teacher and in some cases by students themselves. Teachers will mark completed ILTs and give feedback to the whole class and to individual students within two weeks of completion.

 

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19 Aug

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