Home Learning is any work completed by a student outside of lessons. It is important in study time students develop, consolidate or extend their learning.

The main purposes of Home learning include:

• encouraging pupils to develop the skills, confidence and motivation needed to study effectively on their own;
• consolidating and reinforcing skills and understanding developed at school;
• extending school learning, for example through additional reading;
• managing particular demands, such as controlled assessment and non-examined assessments.

​Students have the largest responsibility for their study tasks. They should make sure they review tasks set via the SIMS app and seek support if they don’t understand. They should form a routine for studying and work independently whenever possible. They should make sure all tasks are completed to their best effort.

Parents and carers should support students in their study time.  They should help students to find a suitable place and time to complete their work outside lessons. They should monitor student’s organisation using the SIMS app and communicate with subject staff and the tutor when necessary.​

Teachers should be assigning challenging and meaningful study tasks that consolidate, prepare or accelerate students’ learning. They should ensure tasks are set via SIMS and students are aware when homework has been set and is due. They should communicate with tutors and involve parents and carers if a pattern of late or incomplete study tasks develops.​

Tutors should monitor students’ recording and completion of the tasks set via SIMS. They should involve parents and contact them if a pattern of late or incomplete tasks develops across more than one subject.

Guidance for Parents/Carers:

​Some things you can do:

• Talk to them about their home learning assignments; about what they’re doing, what they find interesting in it, how long it takes them. They don’t always want to talk about it, especially as they get older, but it is the way of discovering what they are doing at school.
• Set times and the place where home learning should be done. Once students have established the habit of home learning they find it much easier to settle.
• Do make the home learning environment quiet and comfortable. Make sure there are no distractions like TV sets / games consoles etc. on in the background.
• Do encourage and praise your child when they are doing their home learning. Point out what they have done well, build on their successes. Success and the feeling of success is the great motivator.
• Do help them with assignments but don’t do it for them. Help them find answers but don’t simply tell them. You might think you are helping them but you are actually putting them at a disadvantage. They will become dependent on you to a large extent. It also doesn’t help teachers gauge what areas the child needs to develop.
• Don’t criticise your child if they make mistakes with their assignments – everyone makes mistakes and trial and error is often the best way to learn.
• Don’t underestimate the importance of home learning. If you’ve had a long day at work, the last thing you want to do is to work some more - but please remember that children are asked to study at home for a reason.