Homework

Homework

An exciting new development of our teaching and learning here at Ibstock Community College will be the introduction of our new homework policy. Homework is a key part of college life. The Education Endowment Foundation estimates that effective and regular homework can add a further 5 months progress to a young person's education.

Knowledge Organisers and 20:20:20 homework

The 20:20:20 principle is simple and clear to follow for both students and parents/carers. All students will be expected to complete 1 hour of homework each week night. We expect that parents and carers will support their child to complete 20 minutes of reading, 20 minutes of additional maths and 20 minutes of revision from Knowledge Organisers which accompany every unit of work in Years 7 to 9. The Knowledge Organisers will be available from the college website for students and parents/carers to view.

Knowledge Organisers provide the learner with the key knowledge each students needs in order to make progress within a subject. This will support our commitment to providing your child with a powerful knowledge rich curriculum in all areas of their education at Ibstock Community College. Knowledge Organisers will help all students commit key subject information to long term memory allowing students to make greater progress in each academic area.

For further explanation and examples of best practice please click here.

Student Planners

All students will receive a student planner at the start of the academic year free of charge. The student planners will support engagement with homework. Students will be expected to keep written notes of the work they have completed in their planners and this will be checked by form tutors every week.

Homework expectations

1. All students will complete 20 minutes of reading, 20 minutes of additional maths and 20 minutes of revision from Knowledge Organisers each week night during term time.
2. All students should purchase a ring binder folder that will contain their knowledge organiser work.
3. All studenrts will be expected to keep written notes of the work they have completed in their planners. This will be monitored by form tutors each week. Parents/carers will be required to support this by signing the planner each week to ensure the homework is completed.
4. A termly calendar of knowledge organiser activities will be produced for all students and be available on our website. 

Parents and carers can support at home by:

• Ensuring your child has a quiet place in which to work
• Ensuring they have the correct equipment
• Ensuring that your child’s time is structured around dedicated independent learning time
• Encouraging your child to complete their independent learning tasks in good time and to the best of their ability
• Encourage your child to read as widely and as often as possible – we have books to loan from the RRC.

Suggested activities

1. Learning subject specific key words
2. Mind map information
3. Write a quiz on the information
4. Parents/carers to test their child on the knowledge organiser
5. Redesign the knowledge organiser
6. Research a topic further and add to your knowledge organiser
7. Flashcards
8. Summarise the knowledge organiser
9. Practice spellings

Additional Resources

• Mind map information - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y1HJMuqAPY
• Write a quiz on the information in the knowledge organiser
• Parents/carers to test their child on the knowledge organiser
• Redesign the knowledge organiser – make poster or re-write
• Research a topic further and add to your knowledge organiser - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXNztCLYgxc
• Flashcards - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzCEJVtED0U
• Summarise the knowledge organiser - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5cQ5bWLi2A
• Learn and practice spellings - Look, say, cover, write, check

Please click here for the Knowledge Organiser schedule 

Other subject information and login details