The Queen Katherine School HOMEWORK POLICY This policy was ...

CURR/23/HOMEWORK
The Queen Katherine School
HOMEWORK POLICY
This policy was updated in November 2005. Approved by Governors on 15 March 2006
This document applies to Years 8 to 11 only.
Rationale
In order for homework to be effectively set, completed, collected, where appropriate, and reviewed, a coherent
framework is needed which is accepted by students, parents and staff. A code of conduct is also desirable
which can be used as guidance for all colleagues and which reflects and builds upon current practice. To these
ends, a document will be issued to students and parents upon entry into the school, and staff will also be issued,
in the Staff Handbook, with this document outlining school policy and practice concerning homework.
General Principles
These are outlined in the document for parents. Staff should familiarise themselves with the contents of this
document.
Guidelines
1. Setting of homework
Homework should be communicated to students both orally and in written form.
Homework set should be copied into the standard format school homework planner. Ample time
should be allowed for this task. No substitute diary planner will be allowed. In the event of loss, a
replacement must be purchased from the Year Head.
Children with special needs should be allowed to record homework set on a dictaphone or personal
organiser if available and appropriate.
Each teacher should keep a record of homework set. As far as possible, tasks set for homework
should appear in schemes of work.
2. Time allowance
Wherever possible, more than one night should be allowed for the completion of all homework. This
recognises that children and their families may have worth-while commitments outside School which
may inhibit the completion of homework in a single evening. It is expected, however, that deadlines for
homework will be observed by students in all but the most exceptional circumstances. Allowing more
than one night for homework also allows students an opportunity to develop skills of time management.
Recommended time allowances per setting of homework are shown in the parents' and students'
document.
Holiday work should not normally exceed the normal weekly time limits set for normal homework.
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CURR/23/HOMEWORK
3. Homework timetable
In years 7-9, a timetable will be sent home via students showing on which nights homework is set for
each subject. This will be issued in September of each year by the Deputy Head in charge of the
Curriculum. Staff should not set homework on other than the designated night, in all but the most
exceptional of circumstances. A more flexible approach is permissible in years 10 and 11, bearing in
mind the total recommended time for homework per subject.
4. Problems
In the event of a student not completing homework satisfactorily, the subject teacher should point this
out to pastoral staff and parents by using the red “homework not completed satisfactorily” stamp in the
space in the homework diary planner where the homework was (or should have been) noted. In
addition the teacher may decide to impose a lunchtime or after school detention (24 hours notice
required for the latter). A discipline slip may be issued for repeated offences.
If, on checking homework diaries, the Form Tutor finds an unacceptable level of non-completion of
homework, the offender should be put on homework report. Under normal circumstances, 6 red stamps
within one half term would be deemed “unacceptable”, but form tutors should use their discretion in
referring students to the Year Head.
If no improvement is apparent, further action should be taken by the Year Head, which may involve
contact with parents.
In the event of a problem existing in one particular subject, any follow-up action should be taken by the
subject teacher concerned along with the relevant Head of Department.
The procedure for parental contact with staff in the event of queries relating to homework is outlined in
Section 4 of the parent/student document.
5. Conditions for homework
Conclusion
It is not necessary that homework be carried out at home. In fact, a visit to, for example, the Library
(Town or School) could be an integral part of a homework. A homework might also involve a
collaborative effort by a number of pupils which might most effectively be carried out at School. It
should also be noted that, for some students, conditions may not be very conducive for study at home.
In spite of the obvious difficulties, parents should be encouraged to provide a suitable working
environment at home and check the completion of homework carried out at School or elsewhere.
Homework has, at times, been a problem area for some students and their parents. It can also be the source of
some stress for staff in the monitoring of it. The aim of the foregoing is to provide a consistent and readily
comprehensible framework for the setting and monitoring of homework. It must, however, be accepted and
implemented by all colleagues if it is to be effective.
This policy document will be subject to review at the end of each calendar year bearing in mind feedback from
staff, parents and students via the School Council.
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