Primary school
Obligatory homework:
The following time spans should be followed as a guideline for weekly homework. Expectations will rise with the age of the children, guiding them towards independent study and a responsible attitude to learning.
Year 1: 30 minutes a week
Year 2: 45 minutes a week
Year 3 and 4: 1 hour a week
Year 5: 1 hour 15 minutes a week
Year 6: 1 hour 30 minutes a week
Every child should also read for 15 minutes every day.
The class teacher is responsible for setting homework, ensuring that the demands are manageable and relevant. Home learning should be varied, including many areas of the curriculum including Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening, Mental Mathematics, Written Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, Art, etc. Normally, homework is reading and spelling and then an appropriate amount of written work. Teachers will aim to keep parents informed and involved.
Incomplete homework will be recorded and three instances will result in a letter home to parents or parents contacted through the homework diary.
Optional homework:
Class teachers will regularly offer opportunities for additional studies/tasks at home. These will normally support and enhance the enjoyment of topics covered in areas of the curriculum not reflected in the weekly homework schedules above, for example Art, PE, Music, Arts and Sciences, Topics, Computing, etc. Typically, they will give children an opportunity to research or find out information and share it with their peers and teachers. Optional activities targeting learning goals in core subjects may also be offered to certain students following discussion and agreement between parents and teachers. Examples of activities might include creating a poster or fact sheet, bringing in an item for show and tell or sharing a presentation.
Teachers will always communicate these tasks (including dates to be completed) to parents and children clearly. This will provide the opportunity for greater depth of study for those that choose it. At the same time, it prevents undue pressure on very busy families or those that have long journeys to and from school.