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.

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