Homework

At Longdendale, we view homework as a valuable opportunity to enhance our students' learning and prepare them for future challenges. Homework helps to consolidate what has been learned in school, lays the foundation for future independent study, and strengthens the partnership between home and school.

How We Set Homework

All homework will be set on Arbor, informing students and parents and carers of what is required and the deadline by which activities should be completed. Staff will inform students of their homework during lessons, and tasks will be assigned through Arbor. Parents and carers can view task details, deadlines, and resources on this platform. Resources can also be uploaded by staff and accessed by both students and their families. Submission is also tracked, and teachers can send reminder notifications to classes, parents and carers.

The weekly expectations of our students are as follows:

Masters of Knowledge

This is work students should be completing in the booklets they have been provided with and using the ‘mastery sheets’ for each subject (available to view on our Curriculum by Year Group pages). On these sheets are questions identifying the substantive knowledge students need to know for each of their subjects. Students have been taught study methods (look, cover, write, check and flashcards) and should be completing these as part of their Masters of Knowledge homework.

For Year 7 and Year 8 students, each subject has also provided ‘Legacy Missions’ – these are additional tasks students can complete at home to consolidate mastery of knowledge in each of their subjects. Each mission has a challenge element so that students can extend their knowledge further.

Students practice recalling this knowledge twice a week in their morning Aspiration Briefings and at the start of each lesson in their Do Now activity. Teachers then check knowledge is secure through the Mastery Recall Tasks completed once per half term. The illustration below shows how Do Nows and Mastery Recall Tasks work with homework to create students that are Masters of Knowledge.

Subject Specific Tasks (KS4 only)

These will be set by class teachers for Key Stage 4 students, requiring them to complete work that will either consolidate substantive knowledge or give students the opportunity to practise applying knowledge (disciplinary and procedural knowledge). This could take the form of work set on an online platform such as Seneca or an extended writing task such as an exam style question. Students should complete the work in their exercise books unless directed otherwise by their teacher.

Benefits of Homework

• Accelerates learning: helps students make quicker progress.

• Encourages independence: prepares students for GCSE exams and independent revision.

• Provides practice: reinforces classroom skills.

• Utilises additional resources: allows use of materials not always available in class.

• Involves family: engages parents and carers in the learning process.

• Teaches time management: gives students valuable experience in meeting deadlines.

• Boosts confidence: supports self-esteem and confidence.

• Links to mastery sheets: helps with long-term memory retention.

For Students

• Check Arbor daily: log in to Arbor each day to review and complete your independent learning tasks.

• Use mastery sheets: access the subject mastery sheets to guide your study.

• Check school email: log in daily to check for resources and messages from teachers.

• Develop independent study skills: use these skills to enhance your understanding across all subjects.

• Read regularly: enjoy a range of reading materials, including your current reading book and various fiction and non-fiction texts.

• Practise your maths: by completing the tasks set in the homework booklets.

For Parents and Carers

• Set up your Arbor account: use your login code to create your account on Arbor.

• Monitor homework: log in daily to view your child’s independent learning tasks.

• Support homework completion: encourage your child to complete their tasks each day and help them develop effective study habits. Contact your child's form tutor if you have any queries.

• Promote reading/numeracy at home: ensure reading and maths are valued activities at home and support your child at home with completing tasks related to English and maths.

• Discuss academic progress: engage in discussions about your child’s academic progress and use the mastery sheets to help them prepare for tests.

• Check mastery sheets: use these to support your child's knowledge and recall.