Homework Policy March 2021 - Thornhill Academy

Homework
                                               Policy

                                              March 2021

                      Date of approval:             01/03/21
                      Approved by:                  Consilium Academies
                      Date of next review:          Review March 2022

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Special Leave of Absence Policy - July 2020

Preface
Thornhill Academy, in accordance with our aims and values, work to serve our community by providing an
education of the highest quality. We strive to ensure that “Learn to Live” is a reality, promoting the growth of
knowledge and learning. At Thornhill Academy we take pride in developing each individual pupil to achieve
their potential and make a positive contribution to society. We provide a safe, happy and nurturing
environment in which we challenge all to strive for personal accomplishment within a broad, vibrant and
enriched curriculum.

This policy and its associated procedures are based on these key aims and values.

Contents:
Statement of Intent

   1. KS3 Homework

   2. KS4 Homework

   3. Homework Club

   4.   Sanctions

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Statement of intent
Thornhill Academy believes that homework is important in reinforcing and extending the learning undertaken
in the classroom. It facilitates the development of positive learner behaviours such as enquiry, responsibility
and independence which support each individual to achieve their full potential. It is the expectation that all
students complete homework in accordance with the policy outlined below.

1. Homework at KS3 (Years 7, 8 & 9)

1.1 All subject areas have a homework menu attached to each medium term plan within their schemes of
learning. Each menu has a series of MUST DO tasks – usually 4 - together with a series of tasks from which the
students will choose at least 2. Homework menus are issued at the start of a unit of work with the expectation
that students will complete 1 task each fortnight.

1.2 Homework menu tasks are differentiated, providing varying degrees of challenge and support. The emphasis
is on student engagement and promoting the idea that learning is fun.

1.3 Where appropriate staff have the discretion to set additional homework to meet the needs of individual
students or groups of students.

1.4 Homework is set using Class Charts with homework menus uploaded for student / parental access together
with relevant instruction regarding tasks and deadlines for submission. Currently students also record their
homework in their planners which are checked and signed on a weekly basis by form tutors and parents /
carers.

1.5 Homework menus must be affixed into the student’s exercise book or homework folder with an
acknowledgement from the teacher that the homework has been completed and the points awarded. Given the
creative nature of many of the homework tasks, it may be inappropriate to mark them in adherence to the
academy marking policy.

1.6 All students are rewarded for their effort with homework. After assessment points are recorded
electronically using Class Charts as follows:

      2 Points: homework handed in on time
      4 Points: Good homework handed in on time
      6 Points: Excellent homework handed in on time
      8 Points: Exceptional homework handed in on time
      2 Points limit for any homework submitted after the deadline.

1.7 Where possible visits are made to classes by DoL & SLT to commend students on their homework, with
outstanding effort being recognised by a Headteacher’s Certificate presented in assembly. Examples of
outstanding pupil homework are celebrated by being displayed in the Hall of Excellence where possible.
Departmental leader boards have been adopted in some departments to raise the profile of homework.

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1.8 Students exchange homework points for prizes via the librarian in the LRC.Posters displaying the available
prizes and exchange values are displayed in all classrooms and around the buildings. Regular points updates
are provided for tutors to share with students further promoting the merit of independent study.

2. Homework at KS4 (Years 10 & 11)

2.1 With the exception of core PE, homework will be set in all subject areas to support students in reinforcing
and extending the learning undertaken in the classroom and building stamina in preparation for the demands
of external examinations.

2.2 Homework will be set when it is appropriate and may take many forms from learning key information to
completing timed examination answers. The amount of time to be spent on a piece of homework will vary
within and between subjects although it is recognised that the frequency and degree of challenge in homework
tasks may increase from years 10 -> 11.

2.3 In setting homework tasks subject staff will take into consideration the needs and abilities of the students.
This may necessitate the provision of differentiated homework tasks which may include homework menus.

2.4 All paper based homework must be labelled as such and must be affixed into the students’ folders /
exercise books. Departmental practice of completing homework on a particular colour of paper is to be
encouraged.

2.5 Homework is set using Class Charts with homework documents uploaded for student / parental access
together with relevant instruction regarding tasks and deadlines for submission. Currently students also record
their homework in their planners which are checked on a weekly basis by form tutors.

3. Homework Club

3.1 The Homework Club takes place Monday, Tuesday & Thursday in the Learning Resource Centre from 2.50 –
3.50. It is staffed by the librarian and TAs. Students have access to a range of resources to support their
learning including computers, printers, book stock and subject specific resources.

3.2 Staff support students in accessing their homework via Class Charts and provide support and
encouragement with regard to organisational / study skills, signposting to the most appropriate resources.

3.3 All students are encouraged to attend with 2 additional homework points being awarded for attendance at
Homework Club.

3.4 Attendance at Homework Club is monitored daily with all students signing in and out. Weekly attendance
figures are compiled, shared and analysed allowing for the tracking of trends in attendance amongst key
student groups.

3.5 Class Charts alerts identify students who have regularly attended Homework Club. These are provided for
tutors and HoH to praise students for their independent study and positive work ethic.
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4. Sanctions

4.1 When homework is not completed the class teacher issues a warning and the student is expected to submit
the homework the next day. Failure to do this will result in an automatic 30 minute after school homework
detention.

4.2 It is the responsibility of students in homework detention to bring any outstanding homework to the
detention to complete. It is also the responsibility of the student to ensure that homework completed in
detention is submitted to the relevant teacher.

4.3The Education and Inspections Act 2006 gives schools the legal backing to detain pupils after the end of the
school day on disciplinary grounds. Parents/ carers will be given notification of detentions of 30 minutes or
more. Class Charts and text messaging will be used to inform parents/carers. Detentions can be given for a
range of misbehaviour which affects learning or the orderly conduct of the school such as failure to complete
homework.

4.4 Where a student fails to attend a detention given for the non completion of homework, this will be
escalated in line with the escalation procedure as set out in the Behaviour Policy.

4.5 When 6 or more homeworks in any 6 week period are not completed parents / carers will be invited into
school to meet with our parent/ family liaison officer to discuss ways in which their child can be supported in
meeting academy homework expectations. This will be followed by a meeting in the following half term in
which the impact of the intervention is reviewed.

4.6 Where involvement of the parent / family liaison officer week does not lead to a change in behaviour
parents / carers will be contacted by the relevant Head of Year to set up a further in school support meeting.

5. Responsibilities

5.1 The governing body will review this homework policy in conjunction with the head teacher and monitor the
policy’s effectiveness, holding the head teacher to account for its implementation.

5.2 The head teacher is responsible for reviewing this homework policy in conjunction with the governing body
giving due consideration to the Academy’s statement principles. The head teacher will also approve this policy.

5.3 All academy staff are responsible for:

    The setting of meaningful and appropriate homework tasks
    The assessment of homework tasks
    Consistent implementation of the homework policy
    Use of Class Charts to reward and sanction homework
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      Encourage the use of the homework club
       Support students in homework detention
      Checking and signing the planner on a weekly basis (tutors)
      Checking and monitoring student homework behaviours via Class Charts (tutors)
      Issuing reminders to students of detentions / compulsory homework club

5.4 All students are expected to:

      Complete homework to the best of their ability ensuring that it is identifiable as their work
      Hand in completed homework to the appropriate teacher by the deadline set
      Take responsibility for attendance at detention / compulsory Homework Club if required
      Take responsibility for the management of their homework through class Charts / Academy planner.
      Communicate with teachers if they are experiencing difficulties

5.5 Parents /carers are expected to:

       Support their child in adhering to the academy expectations with regard to homework
      Monitor student homework through Class Charts / Academy planner including signing the planner on a
       weekly basis
      Support their child in developing the organisational skills needed to ensure that they meet deadlines
       Inform the academy of any changes in circumstances that may affect their child’s ability to meet
       expectations with regard to the completion / submission of homework.

  Homework Policy
  Creation Date         Staff           Version     Status
  October 2018          J Le Roy        1.0         Pending approval by the Governing Body
  Revision date
  July 2019             J Le Roy        1.0
  Revised March         J Le Roy        2.0
  2021
                                        3.0

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