Valuing and managing homework
In 1997, Huntington School was recognised in HM Chief Inspector of Schools Annual Report, as a successful
school. The high expectations placed upon students and staff in all aspects of school life is just one
contributory factor to the success enjoyed by the school. These expectations are also applied stringently
to homework, for the school believes that one hour's homework a night for five years is the equivalent of
an extra year at school. Homework is not just a fill-in-time and finishing-off mechanism, but is used
regularly for major pieces of work that enhance and extend work undertaken in the classroom.
Laying the foundation
As soon as students are admitted into Year 7, the importance and value of homework is established. No
homework is set over the first two weeks, but the time is spent explaining to students and their parents
why it matters, checking homework timetables and encouraging all parents to make sure that there is
somewhere suitable at home for homework to be completed.
Then in week three, homework is set in the core subjects only. When these are set, each form and subject
tutor checks that each homework task has been completed.
By the end of the first month, high expectations of students have been set. Parents are also fully
involved, signing the Homework Planners each week. Meetings are also held with parents of under-achieving
students. This usually results in an improvement in the quality of the homework produced by the students.
The value of homework is also noted in the Staff Handbook, which includes sections on why homework matters,
setting homework, marking homework, monitoring homework and sanctions.
Managing the policy and practice
Homework Planners are the key feature of the homework strategy. Each homework task is written on the
blackboard well before the end of a lesson - it must not be dictated. Students then copy it into their
Planner. Each Planner is then checked on a weekly basis by the form tutor. Teachers set homework, students
complete it, parents sign the Planner each week, form tutors check the Planners, with the process
supervised by the Heads of Year.
All concerned believe that homework is an important and integral element of each student's education.
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