All students will be expected to do homework, the amount varying according to their needs at each stage of their school life.

Homework provides an opportunity for students to go more deeply into a subject, to practise a newly-acquired skill, to read more widely, to consolidate new ideas and to develop self reliance by working on their own. It is clear that these kinds of skills are vital preparation for both coursework and examinations which are essential components in Standard Assessment Tasks (SATS) and General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE).

To help students organise their homework commitments, we produce annually a homework timetable for all students in the College.

The idea behind the timetable is that students will know what is expected of them during any one week and can therefore organise their time to meet their deadlines. Each student is issued with a Personal Planner sometimes referred to as the “Homework Diary”. Its purpose is, as the name suggests, to aid personal organisation and record achievements such as merits and other significant events in the life of the student. It is also a means of communication between school and home. If a parent wants to communicate with a Form Tutor or a subject teacher then they are invited to make a short comment in the diary and ask their son or daughter to show it to the relevant teacher. Similarly, the tutors and subject staff use the diary as a means of communicating with parents.

When homework is set, students must ensure they write in their diary the date the homework is due back and, when it has been completed, the amount of time taken.

Parents often ask how they can help.

First and foremost your son or daughter will be encouraged if you take a positive interest in what they are doing or ask to see their books or offer to test some work which has to be learned.

Second, it is useful if a room can be made available where homework can be done free from distraction.

Third, if a student is obviously finding homework a strain or spends far too much time on it, please let us know so that unnecessary frustration and tension can be avoided. By the same token if your son or daughter appears to be doing little or no homework let the form or subject teacher know quickly. The diary has space for comments by students, teachers and parents.

Finally, parents are asked to sign the Homework Diary each week.