Homework

At Priory School we know homework forms a vital part of students' learning experiences, helping to embed knowledge and skills acquired in class and providing young people with an opportunity to develop a range of crucial learning habits including discipline, persistence and inquisitiveness. 

Aims

• Ensure consistency in the approach to homework for students across the school.
• Set out expectations for all members of the school community with regards to homework. 

Defining homework

Homework, which is sometimes called 'Independent Learning', combines:

• The homework tasks set in order to complement the teaching and learning in classroom or through remote learning. 
• The revision of key content and skills in order to deepen students’ understanding.

Frequency and amount

Studies suggest the optimum amount of homework is between 1 and 2 hours per school day (slightly longer for older students), with effects diminishing as the time that students spend on independent learning increases. Therefore, the school will aim for the following amount of independent learning to be set per night and in the listed subject areas: 

Key Stage 3

• Homework tasks will be around 30 minutes in duration.  
• One piece of homework for every 3 hours of teaching (core subjects once a week).

Key Stage 4

• In KS4 students should be spending around 60 minutes on each homework task. 
• One piece of homework per week for each subject.

Priory School Homework Policy

 Homework Timetables

The timetables below are suggestions for when homework could be completed to ensure students are staying on top of their independent learning. Homework is set on Microsoft Teams.

Year 7, 8 and 9

*A-week  **B-week

For Year 7: Science, English and maths to set homework for the last week of term.  Full homework timetable to be introduced after half-term. 

For Year 8 and 9: Homework to be set from the beginning of term.  

Year 10

Year 11

For Year 10 and 11: Homework to be set from the beginning of the term.