Homework at Coombe Boys’ School

Please click on the following links to view the individual Year Group Homework Timetables:

• Year 7 Homework Timetable
• Year 8 Homework Timetable
• Year 9 Homework Timetable
• Year 10 Homework Timetable
• Year 11 Homework Timetable

At Coombe Boys’ School we believe in the value of homework and that it should be an integral part of every lesson.  We know that this helps our boys to:

• become more independent learners;
• develop self-discipline;
• develop partnerships with school and home;
• complete their coursework assignments;
• consolidate and extend the work studied in lessons;
• develop research, time-management and organisational skills;
• practise work and learn by doing; and
• complete work not suited to a classroom situation.

HOMEWORK ALLOCATION

1. At Key Stage 3, homework will be set according to the table shown below. Pupils will record their homework in their Pupil Planners and parents/carers will be asked to sign these on a weekly basis to show their awareness of this.

2. At Key Stage 4, the following homework will be set per week:

Coursework (but not continuous assessment) will be included within this allocated homework time.

3. At Key Stage 5, the homework allocation for each Level 2/3 course and AS-A2 level subject should be approximately six hours per week.

4. A homework timetable is also published on the website that shows which days homework is set for the majority of your sons’ subjects.  Where appropriate, more than one night will be given for homework completion.

Subject specific Home Learning information

English

The English Department have created homework booklets which run in-line with the scheme of work being followed that half-term. They cover the skills that are in the medium term plan for that unit.

There are three tasks - ALL/MOST/SOME - differentiated so that they get more challenging. This is to ensure all groups can access the homework. There is also a parent/pupil comment box so that the department can ensure parental/pupil involvement in the development of homework in the department.

There is flexibility amongst teachers about whether they take the homework in weekly or half-termly. Class teachers should discuss the homework set with the pupils weekly and they should write the relevant week’s work in their planner.

Mathematics

KS4 – The department has equipped year 10s with textbooks and homework may be sent from these. The current year 11s have exam revision booklets in the form of practice papers, topic specific questions and past papers.

KS3 - At the start of term the department sent a parentmail message with an appropriately attached document to parents. This is determined by the pupil’s year and set. Pupils are asked to stick in a signing sheet in their planners. This table should be signed weekly by parents and staff to ensure that the booklet is completed alongside mymaths tasks. The document has information on support, additional tasks and indicates how parents can spend time supporting their son’s Mathematics.

Art

KS3 - Homework is set weekly (some set for 2 weeks) as per scheme or work.
KS4 & 5 – The department encourages students to book up for an hour or more after school when available. Individual teacher assessment provides specific instructions on what the students need to do, linked to assessment strands.

Business Studies

For homework at Key stage 4 individual tasks are set that are directly linked to the work being done in lessons. Each task has its own objective so students and parents can link it in to their prior learning. Since September, the department has used a 'rewards point' scheme linked to homework which is monitored on a tracking sheet. If pupils hand their homework in on time they get a yellow square on the tracking sheet which = 1 point. If they hand their homework in before the submission date (but still to a good standard) they get a green square which = 2 points. On the day homework is due in, the tracking sheet is projected on the board so pupils can see their current standing. Towards the end of the year the points will be collated the top students will be invited to take part in a rewards trip to the City, hopefully to The Bank of England and London Metal Exchange.

Drama

At KS4 & KS5, homework is set in line with the scheme of work on a week by week basis.

Media Studies

Yr 10: Homework is set on a weekly basis on Wednesdays
Yr 11JD/11SDF: Homework is set on a weekly basis on Mondays/Fridays
Yr 12: Redrafting tasks are given on a weekly basis, when needed. No particular day set for this
Yr 13: Students are set one Assessment objective a half term to complete as homework.

Modern Foreign Languages

Homework is set on a lesson by lesson basis and forms an integral part of the learning from the objectives set.

Music

In music at Key stage 4, homework is set on a lesson basis and noted down in the pupils’ planners. At Key Stage 3 it is a mixture of half term projects and lesson basis. e.g. if the class is studying the djembe or samba unit, a research booklet form the homework for the half term. Keyboard units may ask pupils to continue work by attending a lunchtime keyboard club or practising on own instruments. Other topics will include homework tasks that follow up work started in the lesson or include evaluations at the end of the unit. As percussion instruments are shared, the units of work will take place at different times for the classes.

Travel and Tourism

Weekly deadlines are set and students are required to do at least 1 hr every week catch up at home.