Homework approach

At Kingswinford Academy, our aim is to set regular homeworks that will support student learning beyond the classroom and build the habits of self-quizzing and independent learning that are vital for progression. Each subject will set homework according to a six week cycle that repeats across the academic year.

In Years 7-9, the schedule covers all subjects, but homework time is allocated based on the amount of lessons students have in school, meaning core subjects will set more homework than other subjects. In Year 10 and 11, core subjects have weekly work and options subjects alternate every week.

There may be times where subjects set additional homework to perhaps finish a project, meet a coursework deadline or prepare for an assessment, particularly in Year 11 where course demands and mock examinations may necessitate additional homework.

The schedule linked below represents our normal expectations for a reasonable amount of homework. Subjects will set five pieces of homework per week, with an estimate of 30 minutes needed to complete each piece. 

The homework calendar and subject list can be found here: Homework Calendar 2024.25

Homework overview:

• Students are set five pieces of homework per week, each taking approximately 30 minutes to complete
• Homework is set to a six week calendar which repeats across the academic year
• The majority of work will be set on Seneca Learning, where parents can easily see homework and track their child’s progress, through the app or parent page.
• Maths will use Sparx maths as this bespoke software better suits their subject 
• Art, music, drama and Core PE will set their homework through Google classroom and on Classcharts, as practical subject homework will differ from other subjects
• Students should also engage in regular reading at home, in order to develop their literacy skills. 

Rationale 

Homework plays a crucial role in the educational development of school children, acting as a bridge between classroom learning and real-world application. Research from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) highlights the significant impact that well-structured homework can have on student progress. According to their findings, homework can lead to an average of five months of additional academic progress over the course of a year when implemented effectively.

One of the primary benefits of homework is that it reinforces the material covered in class. By engaging with content outside of the classroom, students solidify their understanding and retain information more effectively. This repetition helps to aid the recall of content and complement the teaching taking place in lessons.

Furthermore, homework promotes the development of essential skills that extend beyond academic achievement. It encourages responsibility, time management, and self-discipline. As children learn to balance homework with other commitments, they cultivate habits that are vital for success in later life. These skills not only prepare them for higher education but also for the workplace, where deadlines and independent work are commonplace.

Seneca Learning

We have opted to use Seneca Learning for the majority of homework setting, in order to improve the homework experience for students and parents. Seneca provides interactive study resources, quizzes, and instant feedback, to help reinforce classroom learning and make studying outside of lessons more effective and enjoyable. This platform not only supports homework completion but also allows parents to see their child’s homework and monitor their progress.

There are help articles created by Seneca linked here to help with accessing and using your parent account:

How to connect my parent account to my child's account?

What is Seneca Learning?

How to use the Parent Platform

There are additional guides available on their Parent FAQs website page.