St. Endas Community School
Homework policy
" Nibil Nisi Labore "
Nothing achieved without effort
The purpose of homework:
- It encourages students to develop the skills, confidence, self discipline and motivation needed for independent learning.
- It helps with the absorption of classroom learning.
- It enables students to explore the subjects in greater detail than is allowed by class time.
- It keeps parents/guardians informed of and involved in the students' work.
The Purpose of homework club:
- To provide a quiet, supervised setting for students to do homework.
- To support the parents/guardians in providing a facility for the students' independent study.
Homework club is available to all students and they are actively encouraged to attend.
- Junior students in school study every day after school
- Senior students can avail of the LEDP study centre as part of the U.L. Access Programme - 5 -9 pm daily
The Amount of homework recommended for students:
Students should expect to receive homework in most subject areas.
- Year 1 1 hour 30mins
- Year 2 2 hours
- Year 3 2 - 3 hours
- Year 5 3 hours
- Year 6 4 hours
The Role of Parents/guardians
- Encourage students to attend homework club.
- Provide, as far as possible, a quiet place for students to do work at home.
- Check that their son/daughter is doing all homework given and encourage learning and revision.
- Sign the journal each week and check any work related comments.
The Role of the student
- Attend homework club as often as possible
- Write all homework given in the school journal.
- Present written work neatly.
- Attempt all work given to the best of their ability. When difficulty is encountered there should be some evidence of effort made.
- Spend time revising and studying as well as doing homework.
- Understand that learning and written work are of equal importance.
- If absent or involved in extra-curricular activities find out the work missed in class and the complete the homework.
The Role of the teacher
- To regularly set and differentiate homework at appropriate levels
- To give students time to write the homework in the journal.
- To regularly correct homework giving constructive feedback and where possible positive comments.
- To record failure to do homework in the students journal and speak to the student on the importance of homework.
- To make year head and parents/guardians aware of persistent problems with students in their homework
Rewards
- Merits in journal
- Positive verbal encouragement
- Positive feedback and comments in homework copy
- Awards for attendance at homework club
Sanctions for homework not done
- Comment in the student s journal.
- Student put on homework report if repeatedly failing to do homework - this should be signed daily by parents.
- If insufficient improvement is made by the student on report parents/guardians should be contacted and asked to come to the school to discuss the matter.
- Detention may be given to students who persist in not doing homework
Ratified by Board of Management on 13th September, 2011