Homework and Home Study

Homework is a key part of learning at Chobham Academy.

We believe that homework is valuable for the following reasons:

• It extends the learning students encounter in class
• It enables students to fill gaps in their learning
• It allows students to practise learning approaches they do not often meet in lessons (i.e. guided research)
• It introduces and encourages the use of independent learning skills which (as well as being valuable at school) prepare students for life at university and beyond.
• It helps develop effective memory habits which are increasingly important if students are to learn well. Young people cannot learn effectively if they are unable to remember what they have been taught

Our homework tasks are generally planned in advance by teachers to fit in with the learning which is taking place in class. Occasionally, teachers may set a homework task more spontaneously to follow up what has happened in the lesson. Such homeworks can be useful but should be the exception.

Homework is set via the Show My Homework website. Resources to help complete homework are posted on the site, parents too are able to access the site to check what homework has been set.

Here is an approximate guide to the amount of homework students should be doing each week:

Years 7-8: 30 minutes per subject (English, Maths and Science should have two homeworks each week). This should be no more than two homeworks per night.

Year 9: 45 minutes per subject (two homeworks each week in English, Maths and Science). There should be no more than two homeworks per night.

Year 10: at least one hour of set homework per subject each week (plus additional home study)

Year 11: at least one hour of set homework per subject each week (plus additional home study)

Sixth Form: please the separate guidance on post 16 study in the Sixth Form section of the website.

Students will be given regular assessments as well as end of year examinations in all subjects. Teachers may well ask students to revise for these assessments in addition to normal homework. We do not expect that revision should be burdensome to children in Years 7, 8 and 9. However, in Year 10 and especially in Year 11, students will be required to do significant extra preparation for assessments. This may amount to three-four hours work per evening in immediate pre examination periods.

As a school, we are very aware of the pressures which too much study can place on young people. This recognition needs to be balanced against the necessity of proper preparation if our students are to be successful in important examinations. There is also the question of ‘how much is too much?’ this will inevitably vary between individual students. Consequently, our form tutors and Heads of Year will keep a close watch on the amount of home study which students are doing.

We are very mindful of student workload and try to ensure that homework and other forms of home study are relevant, useful and manageable for students. However, if parents feel that the home study required is unreasonable at any particular time then they should contact their child’s Head of Year who will be happy to assist.