Every student is allocated a planner at the beginning of the year to assist with the organisation of homework and meeting of deadlines. Rewards are also recorded and parents are asked to sign the planner each week. The Student Planner presents an ideal opportunity for parents and tutors to share a common understanding of the progress being made.

Homework is a very important part of the learning process for all students at Swaffham Hamond's High School. It is part of the school's overall learning and assessment strategy: assignments are carefully planned as parts of schemes of work. There is a regular programme so that everyone - teachers, pupils and parents - knows what to expect each week. A variety of tasks will be set to enhance the learning experience.

The homework may be to complete or develop class work, or may require students to do some research or prepare work for the following lesson.

We set homework following government guidelines as follows:

+ Years 7 and 8: - 45 to 90 minutes a day
+ Year 9: - 1 to 2 hours a day
+ Years 10 and 11: - 1.5 to 2.5 hours a day

Students will be increasingly asked to undertake longer extended tasks which require a greater element of independent study.

How can you help your child?

We ask you to show your interest in the standard of your children's homework by encouraging them to check their presentation and spelling. You could also help by testing them on the work that has been set; listen to them read aloud what they have written; and ask them to explain what they are currently studying.

To help your child organise their learning we publish a homework timetable, which you will find in the front of the log book. Students record homework as it is set. We ask you to support us in seeing that it is completed conscientiously and under the best possible conditions. Please read and sign the student planner each week before it is countersigned by the form tutor.

Although many Personal Computers are available in school mean, a computer at home is a definite aid to learning.