Homework
Careful and regular preparation of homework is an integral part of much learning: it helps learners to acquire the habit of studying in a variety of different ways on their own. To help organisational skills, each student is issued with a diary to record when homework is due and how long it has taken to complete. It has proved helpful when parents take an interest in their child’s homework, consulting the diary where teachers may write comments. Parents are encouraged to sign the diary at the end of each week.
The School Guidelines for homework are available on request from the School Office. In brief, First and Second Year students should on average per week have approximately 30 minutes of homework per subject, while a student preparing for several subjects at General or Credit level may expect between 1 and 2 hours of work per night. A Higher candidate in any subject will require to devote even more time to work at home.
Staff will endeavour to see that homework is:
- Related to class work
- Well explained and with a clear purpose
- Manageable in the time given
- Challenging but not too difficult
- Marked or commented on and returned promptly when it involves written exercise
Teachers will expect that homework is:
- Attempted by each student
- Given care and attention by the student
- Handed in on the due date
Homework is one area of learning where there is a genuine possibility for a positive partnership between student, teacher and parent to promote progress in the student’s learning. It is hoped that parents will take an interest in homework by ensuring students make as good an attempt as possible with any task given.
Study Room
Several days of the week a room is set aside from 1.25 pm to 1.55 pm as a quiet room where any student may go to study or complete their homework. It is supervised by a volunteer member of staff who will be pleased to offer help when asked. Students are encouraged to use this facility.
Parents should not hesitate to contact their child’s Personal Guidance Teacher at any time with any queries about a student’s homework programme, without waiting for reports or interviews at Parents’ Consultation Evenings.
