Homework: Years 9 - 11
At Cheam High School, we know that homework plays a key role in supporting our students to achieve academic success. Homework for Years 9–11 is designed to help:
- Build and consolidate long-term memory
- Develop the skills and knowledge necessary for success in Key Stage 4 qualifications
- Prepare for upcoming assessments using research-informed revision techniques
Homework is set on an ongoing basis by class teachers and takes a variety of forms. Homework is not necessarily formally marked by teachers; instead, they check understanding and learning using methods such as low-stakes tracking, "Do Now" activities, and in-class questioning.
What homework do we set and when?
Online Platforms
Subject areas use a variety of online platforms—including Carousel Learning, Reading Plus, Sparx, and Arbor—to set homework. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of these platforms for developing skills, knowledge, and memory. At Key Stage 4, online platforms may be used in conjunction with other forms of homework, the nature of which varies according to the specific requirements of different subject areas.
Assessment Preparation Homework
We also set homework in the form of Assessment Preparation to tie in with our school assessment windows. These windows occur three times a year for Years 9 and 10, and four times a year for Year 11.
Three weeks before the respective assessment week for Years 9–11, subject areas will pause alternative homework to provide students with targeted Assessment Preparation resources. These are focused and designed to help students prepare comprehensively for their upcoming assessments.
The resources vary across subjects as appropriate, but they will consistently make use of a number of effective, research-informed revision techniques such as:
- Knowledge Organisers
- Mind-Maps
- Frayer flashcards
- Past papers
- Practice questions
These resources will be centrally stored, and a link to the folder can be found on the Assessment page of this website. The purpose of this approach is to ensure students are prepared in the best possible way to succeed in their assessments, while also embedding a culture that proves hard work and revision pay off.
How can you support your child with their Carousel homework?
Carousel is an online quizzing platform that we use for homework. Students have access to question and answer flashcards which they use independently to learn important knowledge and then complete a quiz to test their knowledge.
The Carousel Process: Flashcard revise > Take quiz > Student mark > Teacher mark
As time goes on, students will learn more and more in school. In order to make sure they don't forget all this information, Carousel uses evidence-based strategies to help strengthen their memories over the long term.
1. Spread out the learning
The best way to manage Carousel, and indeed all homework, is by spreading out assignments, not attempting to complete all in one evening. Instead of doing all the work the night before it is due, encourage your child to check their due dates and complete some Carousel work each night. As much as possible, they should spread it out.
2. Active recall
When they are doing the flashcards, make sure your child is speaking out or writing down their answers, rather than just thinking about it in their heads.
3. Test them
Ask them some questions from the flashcards and make sure that their answers are the same (or very similar to) the flashcard answers.
4. Review the quiz together
Mark their quiz with them and make sure they are being honest about what they got right and wrong.
5. Aim for 80%
Encourage them that if they get less than 80% on the quiz, they should go back to the flashcards first, and then retake the quiz.
While our other homework platforms, such as Sparx and Reading Plus, differ in structure, parents can ensure student success by applying many of these same fundamental principles.