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The Marlborough Science Academy

Home Learning

Home Learning at Marlborough is designed to embed, improve, apply and extend the learning that takes place in the classroom.

At The Marlborough Science Academy we believe home learning is important in:

  • supporting positive attitudes to learning
  • encouraging organisation and study skills
  • developing home/school partnerships
  • developing students’ social, moral, spiritual and cultural skills
  • improving students' literacy and numeracy skills

There is an umbrella policy for Home Learning, however Curriculum Leaders have established systems in setting home learning which will enable students to make the best possible progress in their subjects.

There are some patterns which you would expect to see. Firstly, home learning will be set frequently. In many subjects it is likely to be on a weekly basis, although this will vary due to the fact students have more lessons per week in some subjects than others. Secondly, the quantity of home learning will increase as students' progress through the school.

We try not to set home learning across holiday periods for Key Stage 3 students and only the minimum needed for Key Stage 4. We recognise that family time is precious, and we want our students to rest and enjoy creative, cultural and sporting activities during the holidays.

Policy & Procedures
 
How is home learning rewarded? 

High quality home learning and a good work ethos should be recognised inside and outside the classroom. Where appropriate, home learning will be included in displays, both in the classroom and around the school, and used as exemplars.

As a further incentive the following rewards can be issued:

  • House point
  • Pinkie
  • Postcard home
The Role of the Curriculum Leaders is to:
  • Oversee the home learning process in their areas
  • Ensure that home learning is set as per their requirements
  • Support staff in their area who are issuing sanctions for non-completion of home learning, including discussions with students, parents/carers and other staff
  • Work with their SLT line manager to quality assure the process and identify next steps for improving the quality of home learning provided
The role of the student is to: 
  • listen to home learning instructions
  • monitor home learning set to them through relevant school system
  • meet the expectation of completion and deadlines
  • attempt all work set and give their best
  • utilise any support offered to them
  • inform the class teacher of any difficulties before the lesson when the home learning is due in
  • use learning counts to provide constructive feedback
The role of the teacher is to: 
  • set home learning regularly according to the subject allocation
  • give full and comprehensive instructions
  • set realistic deadlines for the completion of home learning and ensure that these are met
  • provide clear instructions on all home learning tasks 
  • mark and return all home learning
  • inform the Head of Faculty or Director of Learning if problems arise
  • differentiate to ensure that all students can access and complete the home learning set
  • provide stretch and challenge through varied and interesting tasks
  • record missing or incomplete home learning and inform parents/carers where necessary
  • Provide appropriate feedback
  • Praise and reward students for completion of home learning
  • Set detentions for failure to complete home learning, incorporating a restorative process that facilitates students being able to complete/catch up on home learning
The role of the parents/carers is to: 
  • discuss, support and check the presentation and quality of the home learning returned to school
  • provide the school with information about any problems with home learning
  • encourage their son/daughter to attend home learning club
  • contact the school if they have any questions or concerns
Reporting to Parents/Carers 

Home learning completion grades will be provided at each grade card.

Support Offered 

The Marlborough Science Academy dedicates the Learning and Research Centre (LRC) to home learning at the end of the school day for students from all year groups to complete home learning.  Students can also use the LRC at break and lunch times. The sessions at the end of the school day are supervised by the staff from the LRC and Specialised Learning Faculty who are able to support all students. It is also resourced with online access, printing and other materials to support students who may not have access to such resources at home.

How is home learning set? 

We endeavour to communicate home learning tasks and expectations efficiently to ensure student engagement and gain support from home, which in turn leads to effective home learning. Parents/carers and students can access live, personalised details of home learning expectations through Edulink with work often set on Google Classroom.
 

Google classroom
 

Google Classroom has become an increasingly important part of our remote learning provision. Please see the instructions below for instructions on how to access it. Click to open full size version.