Home Learning

Rational and Purpose of Home learning

At The Hundred of Hoo Academy, we believe that homework plays a crucial role in the educational development of our students. Homework serves as an extension of classroom learning, providing students with opportunities to reinforce concepts, practice skills, foster independent thinking, and develop effective study habits.

The purpose of homework is to:

Reinforce Learning

Homework allows students to consolidate their understanding of concepts learned in class and reinforce the skills they have acquired. It provides an opportunity for students to apply what they have learned independently, which promotes better retention and mastery of the subject matter and allows them to become more knowledgeable in the process. 

Homework helps students develop valuable skills such as organisational self-management skills including time management, organisation, and self-discipline. It encourages students to take responsibility for their learning outside the classroom and fosters a sense of ownership and autonomy in their educational journey.

Homework tasks often require students to engage in critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical reasoning. It encourages students to explore different perspectives, seek solutions, and develop their ability to think creatively and independently.

Some homework assignments may involve collaborative projects, group discussions, or sharing ideas with classmates. Such tasks promote teamwork, effective communication, and social interaction skills, which are essential for success in future academic and professional endeavours. 

homework structure

At The Hundred of Hoo Academy we understand the importance of effective time management and the development of responsible study habits in our pupils. To support their academic progress and promote a balanced approach to learning, we have implemented a structured homework timetable for Key Stage 3 pupils. This timetable ensures that pupils in Key Stage 3 receive appropriate and manageable homework assignments across different subjects, while allowing them to engage in extracurricular activities and have sufficient time for rest and relaxation. By adhering to the homework timetable, our pupils will develop a sense of routine, responsibility, and organisation, fostering a positive attitude towards their studies and maximising their potential for success. 

Key Stage 3
Years 7-9

Pupils will receive structured homework in English, maths, science, MFL and humanities, alongside independent reading. Homework tasks should take approximately 30 minutes to complete. In performing arts, pupils will complete one piece of home learning over a longer period of time to support their preparation for their assessment in lessons. 

Click here to view the KS3 homework timetable

Key Stages 4 & 5
Years 10-13

While we recognise the increased demands and academic responsibilities that Key Stage 4 (KS4) and Key Stage 5 (KS5) pupils face, we have decided not to implement a homework timetable specifically for these year groups. However, we strongly encourage subject departments to consider implementing internal homework timetables where feasible and beneficial. This approach has proven successful in other subjects, as it helps students effectively manage their workload, maintain a consistent study routine, and reinforce learning outside of the classroom. By offering guidance and support through department-specific homework timetables, we aim to foster independent study skills, promote academic excellence, and facilitate the holistic development of our KS4 and KS5 students. 

Key Stage 4
Years 10-11

Homework should take approximately 45-60 minutes to complete. All subjects will set at least one piece of homework per week. Pupils should also make use of the subject websites (found on the main academy website and linked on their classroom) to complete some independent revision on previous topics. 

Key Stage 5
Years 12-13

Homework should take approximately 60 minutes to complete. All subjects will set at least one piece of homework per week. Pupils should also make use of the subject websites (found on the main academy website and linked on their classroom) to complete some independent revision on previous topics, both during their scheduled study periods and at home. 

academic honesty

At the Hundred of Hoo Academy, we firmly believe that academic honesty is the cornerstone of a student’s educational journey. Upholding the highest standards of integrity is not just an expectation; it is a fundamental value we instil in our pupils.

The academically honest pupil:

DOES:

  • Acknowledge help from parents, older pupils and friends
  • Acknowledge help from teachers and other adults
  • Acknowledge the source of direct quotations
  • Acknowledge information taken from books, artificial intelligence and the Internet
  • Acknowledge reference materials in a bibliography
  • Know what constitutes cheating and abides by the rules
  • Follow all exam rules.

DOES NOT:

  • Use notes during a test unless allowed by a teacher
  • Copy from another pupil during a test
  • Copy from the homework of another pupil
  • Hand in work as his/her own that has been copied or generated from another source
  • Do homework for another pupil
  • Give another pupil his/her own work to copy or work produced or generated from AI

homework support

The Academy has a homework club after school for an hour from Mon – Thurs, and for half an hour on a Friday afternoon in our Technology department. Our Homework Club provides personalised support and a nurturing environment, ensuring your child receives dedicated assistance and encouragement to excel academically, develop effective study habits, and gain confidence in their learning journey.

Please see below for guides to a range of resources and digital platforms used for home learning.

Use the details below to view a Sparx Mathematics demo.

Click here to go to the demo

Username: demostudent
Password: tiny28car

Sparx Reader helps every student to read regularly, which is vital for building literacy skills. Your children will be completing weekly reading homework using Sparx Reader. 

How does Sparx Reader work?

Students can choose from a range of ebooks at their appropriate level and as they read, they’ll answer questions to check they’re reading carefully.

As they read, they answer questions and earn Sparx Reader Points (SRP) for reading carefully. These points will complete their homework task.

The animated image shows an example of what reading on Sparx Reader looks like.

Sparx Reader adapts to each student’s reading level so book choices and section lengths will differ.

Animated image showing someone clicking on a text, the reading it, on Sparx Reader

Motivated readers who demonstrate consistent, careful reading can unlock Gold Reader. 

This means they can read any paper book from the library or from home by scanning in its barcode.

A screenshot of a Gold Member's page on Sparx Reader

Students must find their school on the website and then log in using the same details as their Sparx Maths account.

click here to go to the log in page

Sparx Reader can be accessed on any device that connects to the internet with a web browser. 

  • Sparx Reader adapts to each student’s reading level, so it’s important that you don’t help by answering questions for them. If you help them, Sparx Reader might think they’re a very strong reader and show them books that are too difficult. 
  • You can help by providing a quiet space for your child to focus on their reading homework each week and encourage them to read carefully.
  • If your child doesn’t like a book, encourage them to keep trying! If they still don’t get on with it, they can give the book a low rating and they’ll be able to swap to another book.
  • The best way to support your child is to ask them about the book they’re reading; what aspects they’re enjoying, or what characters and events they’ve recently read about.

Watch the video below for a handy guide to Google Classroom.

Click on the link below to watch the ‘How To’ LanguageNut guide.

click here for the languagenut guide