Prospectus - Homework

Homework

Following an exhaustive consultation process we have devised the following homework schedule for pupils attending our school. For more detail we refer you to our Parent's Guide to Homework, which can be found here.

Year 4	Weekly spellings and half an hour of English or mathematics per week
Year 5	Weekly spellings and half an hour of English and mathematics per week.
Year 6	Weekly spellings and half an hour of English and mathematics per week. Science is given alternate weeks to begin with. Homework intensifies during the Spring Term and the early part of the Summer Term in preparation for SATs in May.
Year 7	Weekly spellings and half an hour each of English, mathematics, science, French.

In addition seasonal project work is given as homework. For example, in Year 6 a local study in the Autumn Term requires work to be done at home.

Sometimes unfinished work is sent home to be completed. This strategy is used with great care since it can be counter-productive when pupils habitually work slowly in the expectation that they can then take assignments home to finish.
The above schedule of work may be altered at different times of the year. The termly year group letter or a separate communication will indicate when and why this will happen. It sometimes occurs because there is a particular focus taking precedence over the usual routine.

Sometimes the homework assignment may not be a written one. For example, collection of labels from food packaging may be the assignment as preparation for a study of the geographical origins of what we eat. These activities are just as valuable as a more formal English exercise may be.

Sometimes children elect to take work home to continue or to finish. This is because they are keen and motivated.

“Headteacher’s Voluntary Homework” is a feature of the school.
Ideas which arise in assemblies are often pursued by children on an individual basis and shown to the headteacher. Please encourage your child to pursue such indepedent studies at home, as self motivation is the key to attainment.

Practical Points about Homework

1) Y4, Y5, Y6 do their homework in exercise books which we ask pupils to buy for themselves. The assignment is clearly written in that book so that both the pupil and parents are in no doubt what the assignment is.

2) Y7 have a homework diary in which the assignments are written.

3) Each homework is designed to last about 30 minutes. Please sign your child’s homework and state the time taken, if different from 30 minutes.

4) When parents sign the homework they are agreeing that they are happy with the quality of work produced.

5) If your child has worked conscientiously for 30 minutes and between you it has been decided that “enough is enough”, please sign the uncompleted assignment with an appropriate comment.

6) Please become familiar with the day homework is meant to be handed in. Part of the discipline and benefit of homework is that it is given in on time. Please do not collude with your child over homework not being done. Since we have devised a reasonable homework load, we think that it should take priority over other home activities. You yourselves have called for a more rigorous homework routine, so please do your part in ensuring that it runs smoothly.

7) If a child is negligent about handing homework in, s/he will receive appropriate reprimand or punishment.

8) Please use the homework book as a means of communicating with your child’s teacher. If you have noticed something about how your child has tackled the assignment, it may be helpful to express it.

Roxbourne Middle School · Torbay Road · South Harrow · HA2 9QF

(Tel) : 020 8422 1059 · (Fax) : 020 8864 6914