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Copleston High School

Homework (using our virtual platform- Satchel)

Homework at Copleston High School

Why do I get homework?

Homework is a valuable boost and supplement to your learning in school.  We set homework for a number of reasons:

  • To develop your independent learning skills e.g. thinking and researching
  • To prepare you for the kind of work you will do higher up the school and later in your life
  • To prepare you for lessons and tests that are coming up
  • To help fix what you have learned in lessons in your mind

You must complete your homework.

What kinds of tasks will I be given?

Teachers are encouraged to set quizzes using the Satchel quiz function. Spelling tests revision, pre-reading and all types of homework as also set:

  • Researching (extended projects set over a longer period of time or resource gathering in preparation for future lessons)
  • Learning (e.g. vocabulary, spellings, facts)
  • Extension tasks that deepen your learning in the lesson
  • Writing assignments/drafting
  • Reading
  • Practising (e.g. presentations/newly acquired skills/examination questions)
  • Projects to support your learning (completed over a number of weeks)

We try to set a variety of different types and styles of task because students learn in a variety of different ways, and they find variety more interesting and motivating. 
If a set home learning task requires you to use ICT to complete it, and you do not have access to a computer at home, you can use the school’s ICT facilities at lunch time or after school.

How much homeWORK will I get, and how often?

Because teachers need to respond to the learning going on in the classroom, it is quite hard to say how much you will get, but the amount of homework set does also depend upon your age.

  • In years 7 -9, you should expect to spend around 30 minutes on each homework task.  Home learning will be set every three to four lessons of subject time.
  • In years 10 and 11 you should expect home learning tasks to last up to an hour every week in each subject.  Some subjects, e.g. Art, might well be more time consuming than that!
  • In years 12 and 13 you should expect home learning tasks of at least three hours per subject per week, but you are also expected to supplement work in lessons and for home learning with self-directed study (e.g. background research and reading around the subject).  

This work may be done at home or during your non-contact lessons. 

How is homework  set?

Everyone at Copleston, as well as parents, will have access to an online home learning portal called Satchel One and the Satchel One app.  This can be accessed via a dedicated app that can be downloaded onto phones, or on any internet enabled device via the Satchel One website.  Teachers will be setting homework as normal, but will now be entering it onto Satchel, and your child will then be able to access it easily at any time. 

Clear instructions will be given by your teacher including:

  • Details of the task (on a separate assignment sheet if appropriate)
  • Date it is due in.  We do not generally set homework for the next lesson unless this allows a reasonable timescale for completion of the work.
  • Guide time (how long you are expected to spend on it)
  • Success criteria
  • Whether materials are available on FROG (the VLE), and where they may be found.

If you are unsure about a homework task that has been set, ask your teacher for help!
Remember to check Satchel when you get home and keep to deadlines.  Don’t leave home learning to the last minute.  This rarely results in high quality work!

How can my parents help at home?

Your parents are asked to check your school and homework regularly via Satchel and to encourage you to complete homework tasks. If you can’t complete your homework for a good reason, you must explain to your teacher what has happened. If you have not done your homework, you may be given more time to do it, or you may be set a detention. 

Your progress will be monitored by both teachers and parents so that an open dialogue can take place about your school and homework development. Please keep a close eye on Satchel and ask your teacher if you are ever unsure about what to do. 

Using a PowerPoint from Satchel without having the application on your computer

 

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