All subjects will set challenging homework at St. Patrick's & St. Brigid's College that consolidates learning, deepens understanding and prepares pupils well for work to come.

As a college, we know that homework encourages the development of key independent learning skills and allows all to take full ownership of their learning. Developing good learning skills at home at an early age will help to prepare pupils for the demands at Key Stage 4 and will in turn aid progression and development beyond college. Therefore, we place great emphasis on homework at St. Patrick's & St. Brigid's College.

Our departments consider the use of generative AI carefully when setting homework tasks to ensure pupils do not use this to produce pieces of work where student knowledge is being tested. However, departments are also exploring where generative AI could be useful as a learning tool for pupils.

Consistent homework has been proven to increase the success of pupils.  All pupils are to receive a range of homework tasks every day from different subject areas.

High quality homework enables pupils to:

• develop the independent learning skills that are vital for success in Future Education, Employment & Training: time-management, organisation, problem-solving, proof-reading, effective communication through extended writing, research etc…
• consolidate, apply and extend learning from the classroom
• broaden and deepen their learning and develop powerful knowledge
• learn how to achieve a healthy work-life balance and provide sufficient time to engage in extra-curricular activities

High quality homework enables teachers to:

• accurately assess pupil progress and provide formative feedback
• adapt lesson planning to take account of understanding, prior learning and individual strengths and areas for improvement

Assessment of Homework

• Homework will not always require a written outcome and there is no expectation that homework will be marked by teachers, however, there will be a checking processes (e.g. knowledge checking via 'Do Now' tasks at the start of lessons).

Support for Completing Homework

It is important that tasks are manageable but achievable in terms of time as well as level of difficulty.   Homework club runs after school from Monday-Thursday.  

Time spent doing homework will vary for each pupil but here are some recommendations:

• Year 8/9 - 60 minutes each weekday evening
  20 mins: Reading, 20 mins: Maths/English, 20 mins: Subject homework
• Year 10 - 1 hour 20 mins each weekday evening
  20 mins: Reading, 30 mins: Maths/English, 30 mins: Subject homework
• Year 11/12 - 2 hours each weekday evening
  30 mins: Reading, 30 mins: Maths/English 90 mins: Subject homework

Departmental Areas

Art
Three homeworks per half term at KS3
1-2 hours per week at KS4

Drama

KS3: 20 minute task once per fortnight

KS4 (Performing Arts): Component 1-3 is a 30 minute homework task twice per week

English
Twice per week at KS3
Twice per week at KS4

Geography
One 20 minute task per week at KS3
GCSE- Two 30 minute tasks per week at KS4

History
Once per week at KS3 and Twice per week at KS4

HE
Once per fortnight at KS3
Health & Social Care at KS4 -Twice per week

ICT
Once per week at KS3. A5 homework booklet provided

BCS: Year 12 once per week from December onwards

DT
Year 11 once per week, Year 12 twice per week from April/May

Maths
At least two homeworks per week at KS3 and at least two homeworks per week at KS4

Modern Languages
Once per week at KS3
Twice per week at KS4

Music
Once per week at KS3
Twice per week at KS4

PE
Encouraging pupils to be active at KS3
Research homework once per fortnight for Units 2,3 and 6in KS4 and Written homework once per week for Unit 1

Religious Studies
Once per week at KS3
GCSE - Once per week at KS4

Science
One 20 minute homework per week at KS3
DAS- 3 homeworks per week at KS4 and KS4 SAS- 1 homework per week (30 mins)

Technology
At least one 25 minute homework per fortnight at KS3
GCSE -1 homework per week at KS4

Homework Flow Chart: Consequences

Missing Homework

• Subject teacher records in pupil planner.

3 Missing Homeworks in a subject area

• Subject teacher refers to Head of Department,
• Head of Department issues a Letter of Concern (recorded on SIMS by the office) emailed home.

3 x Letters of concern (across the curriculum)

• Form Teacher refers matter to the the Head of Year.

2 x Letters of Concern (before 3rd due) from 1 x Subject Head of Department refers matter to Vice Principal.

• Vice Principal emails letter to parents/guardians and continues to monitor homework across all subject areas.

If no improvement is noted

• Vice Principal makes further contact with parents/guardians.