Homework
At the Cedars Academy, we believe that all our students, whatever their background, are capable of learning and achieving without limit. One very effective way of learning is called ‘Retrieval Practice’. This is when students regularly review and practice ideas they have learnt earlier in the course. The more often you try to remember ideas, skills or knowledge, the more they stick in your memory.
To support this, almost all homework will also be based around Retrieval Practice. Students will be asked to recall and practice knowledge, not just from the lesson they have done that day, but from other points in the course as well to check they have remembered them.
This homework can come in many forms. It might be simple questions, making flashcards (which they can build up and continue to use themselves) producing knowledge organisers, or making mind maps. You can help as parents by regularly asking your child to explain what they learnt that day. It’s a simple exercise, but it really helps students to learn the important ideas and remember them long term.
Students should expect about 30 minutes per subject every week in Key Stage Four (Years 10 and 11). In Key Stage Three (Years 7 - 9) we will set about 20 minutes per week for English, Maths and Science, and 20 minutes on average every two weeks for other subjects. This homework will be set in the same lesson each week (usually the first lesson for that subject) and will be due in the following week. This way, students can plan their time well in advance.
This homework is an important part of learning, and we care that students do it regularly, and do it well. Therefore, if homework is not done, we will send an email home to let you know that it’s missing. C1s or even C2 subject detentions may also be set.
Below is an outline of the general homework set by each Subject Area, as well as links to any homework platforms used:
KS3
|
Subject Area |
Focus |
Frequency |
Duration |
Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art and Textiles | Subject Terminology Retrieval activites, written and practical. Embed knowledge of elements. | Once per fortnight | 20 - 40 minutes | https://beehive.lionhearttrust.org.uk/#/main/assignments |
| Design Technology (includes Product Design & Food) | Knowledge & skills-based retrieval quizzes focused on embedding knowledge and sticky learning | Once per fortnight | 15 - 30 minutes | |
| English | Skills-based retrieval quizzes focused on improving skill set and subject knowledge base | Once per week | 15 - 30 minutes | https://my.educake.co.uk/student-login |
| French | Vocabulary practice - self quizzing and VLE quizzes | Once per week | 10 - 20 minutes | Knowledge organisers / vocab lists / Lionheart VLE https://vle.lionhearttrust.org.uk/login/index.php |
| Geography | Retrieval quizzes based on topics studied in lessons. | Once per fortnight | 10 - 20 mins | Microsoft Forms / VLE |
| History | Retrieval quizzes based on the topics being studied OR a homework worksheet | Once per fortnight | 10 - 20 minutes | https://app.senecalearning.com |
| ICT | Knowledge organiser based quiz homework | Once every three/four weeks | 15 minutes | https://www.thecedarsacademy.org.uk/curriculum/curriculum-overview/knowledge-organisers/ |
| Maths | Weekly homework booklet or drfrostmaths task | Once per week | 20 minutes | www.drfrostmaths.com |
| Media Studies (EARLY ENTRY ONLY) | Revising Set Texts for Component 1 of the exam | Once per fortnight | 20 minutes | https://resources.eduqas.co.uk/Pages/ResourceSingle.aspx?rIid=950 |
| Music | Retrieval Quizzes based on knowledge of current topics in order to help embed them for life! | Once per fortnight | 20 - 40 minutes | https://beehive.lionhearttrust.org.uk/#/main/assignments |
| PE / Sports Studies | Retrieval quizzes on theory knowledge taught in core PE lessons | Once per half term | 20 minutes | https://vle.lionhearttrust.org.uk/login/index.php |
| Performing Arts | Subject Terminology Retrieval activites, written and practical. Embed knowledge and quiz. | Once per fortnight | 20 - 40 minutes | https://beehive.lionhearttrust.org.uk/#/main/assignments |
| Science | Weekly retrieval homework via Carousel for year 7-9. Focus on current topics in lesson, which will include prior topics as year progresses (KS3) | Once per week | 20 - 30 minutes | Carousel learning - KS3 |
| Social Science | Knowledge organisers for exam unit/coursework | Once per week for examined units | 30 minutes | Beehive / KO / OneDrive coursework / Retrieval linked to homework |
KS4
|
Subject Area |
Focus |
Frequency |
Duration |
Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art and Textiles | Coursework research or practical skills and subject terminology retrieval activitiies. Greater independence at end of Y1 and for whole of Y2. | Once per week | 60 + minutes | Beehive, Email, Pinterest, BBC Bitesize, Art Gallery Links |
| Design Technology (includes Product Design & Food) | Content-based retrieval quizzes based on recalling and applying knowledge - exam questions, sticky learning, working on NEA in year 11 | Once per week | 60 minutes | |
| English | Content-based retrieval quizzes based on recalling prior studied texts. | Once per week | 15 - 30 minutes | https://my.educake.co.uk/student-login |
| French | Exam questions and vocabulary practice. Consolidating and revisiting topics studied in class alongside core high frequency vocabulary. | Once per week | 20 - 30 minutes | Links shared to Exampro where applicable - all other tasks provided in a booklet |
| Geography | Retrieval quizzes from each topic. Y11 recieving topics studied in Y10 too OR revision booklet worksheets from all topics of the spec. | Once per week | 20 minutes | Seneca / CGP Geopgraphy revision guide excerpts |
| History | Retrieval quizzes based on the topics being studied. Some exam practice questions to consolidate exam technique. | Once per week | 20 - 40 minutes | https://app.senecalearning.com |
| ICT | Exam based homeworks | Once per fortnight | 20 - 30 minutes | |
| Maths | Drfrostmaths or Exam based homeworks | Once per week | 30 minutes | www.drfrostmaths.com |
| Media Studies (EARLY ENTRY ONLY) | Revising Set Texts for Component 1 of the exam | Once per fortnight | 20 minutes | https://resources.eduqas.co.uk/Pages/ResourceSingle.aspx?rIid=950 |
| Music | A combination of Skills based practice based on rehearsing your Instrument and completing short composition tasks. Retrieval practice based on knowledge of the skills and techniques used in different s of Music | Once per week | 30 minutes - 1 hour | https://beehive.lionhearttrust.org.uk/#/main/assignments |
| PE / Sports Studies | Coursework research/tasks or exam questions - dependant upon which unit your child is currently studying on the Cambridge National Sports Studies Course | Depends upon unit studying: Coursework unit every 3-4 weeks, Exam Unit every week | 30 minutes - 1 hour | https://beehive.lionhearttrust.org.uk/#/main/assignments |
| Performing Arts | Coursework research or practical skills and subject terminology retrieval activitiies. Coursework for Comp 1+2 and revision for Comp 3. | Once per week | 60 + minutes | https://beehive.lionhearttrust.org.uk/#/main |
| Science | Retrieval of prior knowledge and suport with revision (KS4). Topics have been split and ordered to focus on essential knowledge from each discipline and regualr practise of exam questions via 10 question quiz | Monitored homework with weekly layouts (rotating with bio/chem/phys) in their h/w books and 10 retieval questions based on layout the following week | 30 -40 minutes | https://beehive.lionhearttrust.org.uk/#/main/assignments |
| Social Science | Knowledge organisers for exam unit/coursework | Once per week for examined units | 30 minutes | Beehive / KO / OneDrive coursework / Retrieval linked to homework |