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Homework

The purpose of homework at Capital is to deepen understanding and consolidate learning, preparing students for work to come. Homework is also designed to instil the independent study and organisational skills required for future success. Its ultimate aim is to support students’ academic outcomes. All homework will be set using Google Classroom.

How much homework will be set?

As a guide the recommended homework for a student at Capital is as follows:

Year	Per Week
7-8	3.5 hours reading (a minimum of 30 minutes every day) Approx. 30 minutes of subject specific homework each week
9-11	3.5 hours reading (a minimum of 30 minutes every day) Approx. 1 hour of subject specific homework each week
Capital 6	5 hours per week per A-level subject. Students studying a BTEC or VTCT Extended Diploma should complete approximately 15 hours of independent study.

What homework will be set?

In years 7 and 8, homework will be based on the knowledge organiser for the unit of work being studied and will encourage the use of our Capital’s five Strategies for Independent Learning (Chunking, Quizzing, Elaboration, Spacing and Metacognition). For example, students may be asked to learn how to spell or define ten key words for the topic and then tested at the start of the lesson when the homework is due.

In years 9-11, homework is likely to be a combination of tasks that require the use of the Strategies for Independent Learning and extended written tasks or exam-style questions. In Performing Arts, this homework may take the form of a practical rehearsal. In PE, homework may involve playing a particular sport or practising a skill. In MFL, the homework will additionally involve a listening or reading task each week. In Mathematics, homework will be set using Hegarty Maths.

Capital 6

This may involve pre-reading, exam style questions or answers, note-making, wider reading, essay planning, essay writing or assignment drafting. Students working towards Level 3 study will also be expected to complete assignments for their chosen courses, and work towards improving their GCSE English or Maths grades.

Reading

The benefits of reading for pleasure are well documented and can be viewed here and here.

We aim to support our students in cultivating their reading habits through the expectation that they read for at least half an hour every day.

The Academy has a Recommended Fiction Reading List which can be found here. We expect students to use this list as a starting point for exploring people, places, times, forms, and genres. From this students can get a better idea of what they enjoy reading and therefore become independent readers able to choose fiction they know they will read for pleasure. Students’ reading should also include non-fiction and Time Magazine’s All-TIME 100 Best Non-Fiction Books found here is a good place to start.

At Key Stage 4 (Y9 to Y11) we expect students to read and re-read their GCSE English Literature set texts. These are:

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson;
Macbeth by William Shakespeare;
An Inspector Calls by J. B. Priestley;
Conflict Poems from the AQA Poetry Anthology.

These texts are loaned to students but we recommend students obtain their own copy that they can annotate to support their studies. KS4 students should supplement their set text reading by reading non-fiction, study guides (available through Parent Pay), academic journals (provided in English lessons), and broadsheet newspaper articles.

SEND Support

The Academy’s SEND Department offers homework support for SEND students on Wednesdays and Thursdays after school. This support focuses on Mathematics and English.