Dear Parents and Carers
At Leigh Academy Longfield, we believe that learning extends beyond the classroom and that a strong partnership between home and school is vital to helping our students ‘achieve beyond expectations’. Research from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) demonstrates that effective homework and quality feedback can add five months or more to a pupil’s academic progress. Homework also helps students build independence, resilience, time management, and the self-discipline required for future success. To help you support your child at home, we wish to remind you of our homework expectations, systems, and support options, as well as share an important update regarding our homework completion standards designed to maximise student progress.
All homework is set digitally via Google classroom. Every pupil has access to an academy chromebook through our chromebook scheme to ensure equal access to all online learning platforms and resources.
- Where to look: Within each subject’s Google classroom, tasks are located under a dedicated “Homework” topic.
- Task labels: Weekly tasks are clearly labelled using module and week numbers (e.g. M1 Wk1 for Module 1, Week 1).
- Knowledge organisers: At the start of every module, Knowledge Organisers are uploaded to Google classroom. These essential documents outline key facts and vocabulary, making them excellent tools for home revision and retrieval practice.
In line with EEF research recommending 5 to 10 hours of study per week, our weekly homework allocations are structured as follows:
Years 7, 8, and 9:
- Language & Literature, Mathematics, Science: Two 30–45 minute tasks per subject per week.
- Other MYP Subjects: One 30–45 minute task per subject per week (excluding Physical and Health Education).
- Reading: One Sparx Reader task per week.
Years 10 and 11:
- English Language & Literature, Mathematics, Science: Two 45–60 minute tasks per subject per week (Separate Sciences: one task per science).
- Other GCSE Subjects: One 45–60 minute task per subject per week. (Note: Some subjects may set longer, module-length project tasks or combined 90-minute tasks for Year 11 depending on the curriculum structure).
Parental engagement is one of the single biggest factors in pupil success. Here is how you can monitor and support your child’s learning journey:
Monitor via the MCAS App: All completed and incomplete homework tasks are logged on our behaviour system and visible to you directly through the MCAS app.
Review Google classroom together: Ask your child to show you their “Homework” folder on Google classroom to check upcoming deadlines and instructions.
Use suggested timetables: To assist your child in managing evening and weekend routines, sample homework timetables are available on the academy website.
Encourage early communication: If your child finds a task challenging, please encourage them to message their teacher through Google classroom before the deadline so support can be provided.
Recognising Effort & Maintaining Standards
We aim to celebrate students who consistently work hard, while offering clear boundaries for completion:
Rewards: Completed tasks earn positive points logged on MCAS as ‘Excellent Homework’. Exceptional effort is celebrated periodically throughout the year with department Amazon vouchers.
Sanctions Update: If a pupil fails to submit homework on time, it will be recorded on MCAS. In order to improve homework completion and in turn pupil progress, the number of missed homeworks in a week resulting in an after-school detention is being reduced from 3 to 2. Moving forward, if a student is logged as missing two or more homework tasks across their subjects in a single week, they will automatically be set for an after-school detention to complete the work.
Additional Support: The Success Lounge
If your child needs extra help, internet access, or a quiet space to study after school, we offer the Success Lounge (Homework Club) every Wednesday from 14:00 to 15:30. Academy staff are on hand during these sessions to offer guidance and study assistance.
Thank you for your continued support in establishing positive study routines at home.
By working together, we can ensure your child reaches their full academic potential.
If you have any questions regarding homework set in a specific subject, please reach out to your child’s subject teacher or Director of Learning.
Yours faithfully,
Miss A Garrad
Assistant Principal
