Homework is an important ingredient in children’s learning, especially in Stages 4-6. It reinforces what students have learned at College. It develops discipline. It enhances student enjoyment of learning. In Stages 1 to 3, it affords parents an opportunity to encourage daily reading practices for their children so as to develop stronger comprehension of texts. At the beginning of the year, students will be told by their teacher/s what their approach will be to the setting and marking of homework and how much time it should take them to do it. This information will also be communicated to parents, either through an Information Evening or letter.
Parents of students who have few after-College sporting, music or other interests and commitments, may find that their children want or need additional homework challenges. In such instances, parents should talk with the teacher about ways in which their child’s learning can be enriched.
In Stages 4 and 5 students can expect to be given sufficient homework and assignments to keep them busy for at least four nights per week and part of the weekend. Each homework task is to be recorded by the student in his/her College Diary. Teachers will indicate in the diary if a particular task has not been completed at a satisfactory standard or will email home. If this occurs, parents are expected to acknowledge their awareness that the work has not been done satisfactorily and insist that it is done forthwith. Repeated failure to complete homework at a satisfactory standard will result in teacher-supervised detentions and/or parents being called for an interview during College hours.
The deadlines set by teachers for assignments must be met. Extensions will be given only in exceptional circumstances. These are applied for well in advance of the due date (eg two weeks). At all levels, homework set must always be marked; homework which is not completed to a satisfactory standard will need to be re-done in order for it to be recorded as having been done.
There will be a variation between teachers in both sectors of the College and between subjects and Stages in Senior School in respect to the nature and quantity of homework given. If as a parent, you wish to know specifically what homework is being or has been given by a particular teacher, please contact them directly.