Home Learning

At Harborne Academy we believe that Home Learning is an essential part of a student’s development in that it equips them for academic success.

The Purpose of Home Learning

To encourage students to develop the skills, confidence and motivation needed to study effectively on their own. This is vital, given the importance for students in the future, of lifelong learning and adaptability in the workplace;

• To extend school learning, for example through additional reading;
• To consolidate, practise and reinforce skills and understanding developed at school;
• To sustain the involvement of parents and carers in the management of students’ learning and keeping them informed about the work students are doing;
• To manage particular demands, such as GCSE coursework;
• To enable work not suited to the classroom situation such as research or surveys.

General Information

The frequency in setting Home Learning depends on:

• How often a subject is being taught.
• The nature of the subject
• The needs of the subject

Students should expect to receive one piece of home learning per week for core subjects and every fortnight for non-core subjects.

Most Home Learning will include activities set to reinforce what has been taught in class.

Other home learning opportunities may include:

• Definitions of keywords
• Quizzes to reinforce understanding e.g. Microsoft Forms
• Completion of a task started in lesson
• Research of a topic
• Preparation of a presentation
• Reading e.g. articles, news clips
• Watching related video clips e.g. YouTube clips, GCSE Pods
• Longer projects
• Learning lines/practising performances
• Drawing or design work

All students should be reading regularly. We suggest 30 minutes each evening.

We have a well-stocked library for students to loan books and all students have access to a digital library of eBooks and Audiobooks through ePlatform

Microsoft Teams, Sparx Maths and Seneca

Microsoft Teams is the main point for accessing Home Learning tasks. Teachers will use this platform to communicate with their classes and for uploading relevant lesson resources.

Sparx Maths and Seneca are other platforms that are used throughout the academy.

ePlatform is a digital library of eBooks and Audiobooks. Students can access a large selection of fiction and on-fiction, local and international best sellers on a computer or mobile phone.

On Microsoft Teams, students should regularly check ‘activity’ and ‘assignments’ to ensure that they are up to date with the work set by class teachers.

The ‘Home learning information booklet’ gives information on how to access all online resources. The booklet also contains information on who to contact should students experience problems when working from home.

Completion of Home Learning

Every student is expected to complete their Home Learning and read regularly.

Students who fail to complete or find it difficult to complete their Home Learning will be directed to the Home Learning Support clubs in school.

Absence is not a reason for not handing in Home Learning. If a student is absent on the day Home Learning is to be handed in, they should hand work when they return to school.