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Home Learning
Oakbank Home Learning Guidance for Parents
Research has established that home learning at secondary school has a positive effect on learning and pupils’ progress.
We believe that home learning is an integral part of education in that it:-
- It is crucial for developing a student’s ability to work independently, it reinforces and consolidate what they have learnt in class and allows students to learn how to work through challenging things on their own.
- It gives students an opportunity to engage in self-regulation by them learning to inhibit distractions, use strategies to complete work independently, manage time, set goals and self-reflect on their performance.
- Gives opportunities to practise and develop skills.
Amount of home learning
Oakbank School sets home learning on a regular basis throughout the school. However, on occasions the class teacher/department may feel that home learning will not be necessary with a specific topic/skill. On these occasions we will be suggesting the time is spent enjoying their current reading book.
Year |
Weekly |
Max time each home learning should take |
Each student has 3 double lessons a day and will receive a home learning from this lesson |
7 |
5 hrs per week |
20 mins. |
3 x 20 minute home learning tasks per night |
8 |
7.5 hrs per week |
30 mins |
3 x 30 minute home learning tasks per night |
9 |
7.5 hrs per week |
30 mins |
3 x 30 minute home learning tasks per night |
10 and 11 |
10 hrs |
40 mins |
3 x 40 minute home learning tasks per night |
Please note: We value the time of our students and their families and understand that good planning and organisation is important for academic success & wellbeing. Therefore there will be no home learning set overnight, this includes a weekend. For example, work set on a Friday will not be expected in on the next working day i.e. Monday.
The planning & nature of home learning tasks
Home learning tasks should:-
- Be clearly related to on-going classroom work.
- Be manageable for pupils in terms of allocated time and resources.
- Be explained clearly to students so that they know what they need to do.
- Be challenging but not too difficult.
- Allow for individual initiative and creativity.
- Promote self-confidence and understanding.
- Be manageable for staff in terms of marking.
- Be varied. Suggestions include:-
Writing assignments.
Learning assignments. (To learn a piece of work, practice a skill, recall knowledge)
Preparing an oral presentation.
Reading in preparation for a future lesson.
Finding out information/researching a project.
Using a specific website. (E.G Mymaths, GCSE POD)
Revision activities in preparation for examinations.
Reading for pleasure.
Subject projects
The recording & monitoring of home learning
- All home learning will be recorded on Classcharts by the class teacher.
- Departments strategies are agreed and reviewed regularly to ensure effective setting, recording, marking and monitoring of home learning.
Feedback to students
- Effective and prompt feedback is fundamental in helping students to progress. Use of Feedback & Improvement Time (FIT) is important for feedback to be of real value to a student’s progress.
- Success will be rewarded and student self-esteem raised.
Strategies for supporting the completion of home learning
- The primary aim is for students to understand that home learning is a vital part of their education, to be done at home, home learning club or within subject support sessions.
- Providing that there are no extenuating circumstances, students must complete the set work.
- If a student does not understand the home learning they must see/email the member of staff concerned for assistance at least the day before the home learning is due in.
How parents can help establish a good routine
- Make it clear that you value home learning
- Create a quiet place to study.
- Check Classcharts with them each day/ week until good routines are set.
- Remove all distractions such as mobile phones.
- Encourage them to always have their stationary equipment to hand.
- Encourage they use their home learning notebooks to write clear instructions/notes for themselves.
- Set a timer and make sure they give themselves breaks in between.
- For longer pieces of home learning encourage them to break down the task into manageable ‘chunks’.
- Expect deadlines to be met
- Encourage and praise them when they have completed home learning.
- If your child is struggling to understand the HL encourage them to speak to the teacher BEFORE the deadline date!
- Encourage them to make sure home learning is in the school bag the night before.
Home Learning Links
Department |
Name of service |
Website |
All |
Microsoft Office, Outlook (school emails), and Teams |
|
All |
GCSEPod |
|
Art |
BBC Bitesize – portfolio and exam processes |
|
Art |
Tate Kids Activities and Quizzes |
|
Art |
Tate Liverpool Tate St Ives Tate Modern All contemporary
Tate Britain – British |
Regional access to Tate international collection |
Art |
The Arnolfini, Bristol – contemporary art gallery |
|
Art |
Courtauld Institute - galleries, virtual tours 19/20th century. |
|
Art |
Victoria Art Gallery, Bath |
|
Art |
Fashion Museum Bath |
|
Computer Science, Creative iMedia, Enterprise & Marketing |
Quizizz |
|
Computer Science |
Learn Python |
|
Computer Science |
Amazon Future Engineer |
|
Computer Science |
Scratch |
|
Computer Science |
CodeCombat |
|
Computer Science |
Turtle Academy |
|
Design & Technology |
Seneca learning |
|
Drama |
BBC bite size |
|
Drama |
Willy Russell.com |
|
Drama |
Wicked the musical |
|
Drama |
Matilda the musical |
|
Drama |
Woman in Black |
|
Enterprise and Marketing |
Tenner Project |
|
Enterprise and Marketing |
Business Ed |
https://businessed.co.uk/index.php/home/theory/camnat-public/camnat-theory-notes-public |
French |
Duolingo |
|
Geography |
Kerboodle
|
|
History |
Brainscape Revision Cards |
|
History |
Oakbank History Department website |
|
History |
BBC Bitesize for KS3 History |
|
History |
BBC Bitesize for GCSE History |
|
History |
History extra |
|
Maths |
Hegarty |
|
Music |
BBC Bitesize GCSE Music |
|
Music |
OCR GCSE Music virtual textbook |
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNeHS3oeH242gKpGrZAA-xvafcIOjjpw6 |
Science |
Focus eLearning |
http://www.focuselearning.co.uk/u/32804/BrkjAxrggbmvyCFrsFBwCllydndjqizlA
|
Science |
Educake |
|
Science
|
Kerboodle |
|
Science |
Bitesize |
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/levels/z4kw2hv (KS3 Science on BBC Bitesize) |
Science |
Seneca |
|
Science |
Bitesize |
https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/examspecs/z8r997h (Combined Science on BBC Bitesize) |
Science |
Bitesize |
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zs6hvcw (Chemistry Single Science on BBC Bitesize) |
Science |
Bitesize |
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z9ddmp3 (Biology Single Science on BBC Bitesize) |
Science |
Bitesize |
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zpm6fg8 (Physics Single Science on BBC Bitesize) |
Science |
Revision World |
https://revisionworld.com/gcse-revision/science (GCSE Science revision resources - free to sign up) |
Science |
Maths made Easy |
https://mathsmadeeasy.co.uk/gcse-science-revision/ (excellent resource for KS4 question practice) |
Science |
The Student room |
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/gcse/ (GCSE revision resources - scroll to the bottom of the page for subject selection. Free to sign up for an account if you wish.) |
Science |
You Tube |
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqbOeHaAUXw9Il7sBVG3_bw (Free GCSE science lesson videos on You Tube - student friendly - check permissions for access) |