Homework, Standards of Work, Examinations & Tests
a) Homework
1. Homework is an essential and central part of the educational process.
2. Its aims are to enable teachers:
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to monitor the pupils’ understanding of what has been learned in class
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to enable pupils to consolidate at home the work done in class
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to practise on their own skills learnt in class
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to judge and monitor their own progress, and correct areas of weakness
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to develop the self-discipline and self-confidence which stems from the consciousness of being in control of their own learning
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to develop the ability to organise their own work and study independently
3. Homework should arise out of, or be closely related to, work done in class. It should have a specific learning purpose apparent to the pupil.
4. The standard demanded in the completion of each piece of homework, including that of presentation, should be clear to all pupils.
5. Homework should be set and checked promptly and regularly. Written homeworks taken in by the teacher should be annotated with indications of relative strengths and weaknesses, and marks recorded appropriately.
6. Every pupil should have a sufficient, but not excessive, amount of homework each night and at the weekends. This is regulated by the published homework timetables. It should become part of a pupil’s normal weekly routine and, with the parents’ encouragement, support or supervision, should be accorded an appropriate priority.
7. Every pupil should have a range of varied homework tasks each week, including writing, reading and learning, all of equal importance.
8. All pupils will keep a note of set homeworks in a homework diary, available for inspection by parents and by Form Teachers, to encourage regular and orderly management of their work.
9. Sixth Form pupils should be encouraged to become more responsible for their own work and to develop a pattern of regular, independent study.
b) Homework Diary
A Homework Diary is provided for each pupil, whose duty it is to have this completed. Forms I - V have a homework timetable (agreed by the Heads of Department) which regulates the amount of homework to be set each night; teachers should only set homework for the appointed day and should keep a regular check that all pupils have diaries, that they treat them properly and enter up all homeworks. (If it happens that no homework is to be given for a particular day, then pupils should be asked to enter the words "none set"). In the diary there is space each week for members of staff to make comment if they wish to do so. There are weekly diary inspections in Registration, and parents are asked to sign that they have inspected the diary.
c) Standards of Work
Here so much depends upon the individual teacher and new members of staff are advised not to accept carelessly presented work but to ask for the homework to be repeated. Neatness, accuracy, care and punctuality are obvious requirements for all ages, but especially for Forms I - III so that proper habits are formed early. From time to time pupils whose work is unsatisfactory may be placed on Daily Report Cards by their Form Master/Mistress; these cards should be handed in to each class teacher at each period, for signing.
d) Examinations and Tests
Intern examinations are held half yearly, in December and in June, and reports on these are completed and sent to parents. Appendix C gives information about these.
In addition, for Forms 4 and 5 there are Progress Report Cards which have to be completed (two per term); these are taken home by pupils, signed by parents and brought back into school again. For the Lower Sixth and Middle Sixth Forms there are progress report cards to be completed before the Autumn Half Term, and one in the second term.
School News
SPRING CONCERT
23rd Mar 2010
Ulster Hall - 23rd March - 7.30pm
THE ACADEMY THROUGH TO SCHOOLS’ CUP FINAL
17th Mar 2010
16 - 12 win against Wallace High School
HOCKEY NEWS
10th Mar 2010
Shield semi-final win & selections for U15 Area Board Tournament
MUSIC NEWS
9th Mar 2010
Ballymena Music Festival