Homework

Our school curriculum places great value on homework. It is an important part of both consolidating classroom learning and extending knowledge and understanding for further development. Homework should be challenging, supported, enjoyable and have clear purpose and rationale.

Equally, we recognise that families and family life are integral to motivating and inspiring a child so we are sensitive to making sure that homework is relevant and high value. This means we ensure that homework is realistic, manageable and allows leeway for children and families to enjoy their time together.

Satchel One

Satchel One is our whole-school system for setting homework and gives students and parents the opportunity to check out a personal account to ensure every student stays on top of the tasks and the deadlines.

Every student is given their own personalised log-in and account and the package offers:

  • 24/7 access
  • View quality and quantity of homework
  • Translation into over 50 languages
  • Apps available for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Android devices
  • Receive automated notifications before homework is due

We know that this package will improve each student’s child’s organisation, time-management, and help them to keep on top of their workload.

To access Show My Homework simply click here.

If you are struggling to log-in toe Satchel One please use the online support here.

To learn more about Satchel One how My Homework through a parent tutorial simply click here.

Home Learning Assignments (HLAs)

Year 7 – 9 students will usually undertake Home Learning Assignments (HLAs) as homework throughout the school year.

These are fortnightly projects which allow us to set a substantive task, but also allow families the flexibility to slot them into their own schedules so that with good management they do not become over-burdensome.

The HLA schedule for 2023-2024 can be viewed here.

However, due to the specific nature of the subjects, our Maths and French teachers will set homework more regularly as part of an approach in these areas knows as ‘little and often’. This supports the very incremental nature of the subjects and supports memorisation and step-by-step progression.

We choose not to set Key Stage Three homework over the Christmas and Easter Break, so that students and families can have a refreshing break, although we set optional tasks and reading over the Summer Break. This is about our students focusing on their families and friends, their well-being, and taking a genuine break to re-charge their batteries for the new term ahead.

Years 10-13

Our homework assignments for those on formal exam courses differs to the HLA schedule. The range becomes reduced as students choose their subjects and though deadlines can be shorter, they are also kept realistic so that they remain achievable.

Naturally, mock and formal assessments play a key part of homework load at set times, and this homework contributes to our on-going assessment which is designed to help our students learn how to apply their subject knowledge to specialist thinking and contextual understanding.

Wider Home Learning

Additionally, we seek to inspire our students to engage in further home learning which stem from our rich and varied curriculum. This could include debating a PHSE topic with parent’s through our steered home resources or taking up a lead from our reading lists, penning an article for school magazines and exhibitions, plotting a journey with our Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme or World Challenge, or devising fund-raising and leadership plans for a House initiative.

Our school’s curriculum is about achieving exam success, but just as much it is about providing the spark for independent learning that gives each student an opportunity to develop in a unique and personalised way.

Further Information

For more information about homework and remote learning, please contact Sam Sullivan, Assistant Headteacher, via office@friaryschool.co.uk.