Homework

Homework I imagine most parents and teachers can remember the days of being at school. While we eagerly watched the clock slowly inch towards the bell that would signal the end of the lesson, it was often at this time our teacher then said that dreaded word…homework!

I imagine most parents and teachers can remember the days of being at school. While we eagerly watched the clock slowly inch towards the bell that would signal the end of the lesson, it was often at this time our teacher then said that dreaded word…homework!

Whilst a significant amount has thankfully changed within education since my time at school, homework seems to be one of those things which is no different. Some research has shown that students aren’t doing much differently from what their parents did when it comes to homework. It may come as a surprise that on average the amount of time has remained consistent since 1984!

Although much global debate takes place annually about the importance and value of homework within the British education system, it is a critical part of delivering the curriculum and as such is not an optional extra or burden for either students or staff.  Whilst it does offer teachers the opportunity to evaluate a student’s progress it is not the only reason for setting homework within a structured timetable like we have at BISB. Used effectively homework can aid students’ understanding of a subject by the reinforcement of learning in the classroom, allowing them to explore certain aspects of the subject in a bit more depth, as well as giving students the opportunity for independent learning and to develop research skills.

Each week this academic year it is my aim to share with the whole school community a piece of homework completed by one of our students. Teachers can nominate a student's homework to my blog for a variety of different reasons. Perhaps the homework's content demonstrated exceptional learning, possibly its level of creativity was inspirational or perhaps the student demonstrated a level of application and attention to detail which is an example to their peers. Whatever the homework, the subject, the student or their age, I hope by sharing the excellent homework our students do will strengthen even further its purpose and value.

The homework blog can be followed via Firefly (Parent Information, Secondary, Curriculum & Learning, Amazing homework blog). I will recommend the page each week when a new article is added to the blog and hope you enjoy following and reading some of the amazing homework our students do during the course of this year.

Stephen Moruzzi
Deputy Head of Secondary