A warm welcome from the Head of School

Welcome to the Learning Curve,

A fairly short post from me today but it’s on an important topic. Homework! 

Homework or Home Learning is always one of the more controversial discussion points in education. It tends to bring out very strong opinions and a wide spectrum of them! There are those that believe it’s the sign of rigour and academic quality. An essential element of education. There are also those that detest  it. Believing it to be an imposition on the family home and the wellbeing of children. 

As with most things in life the answer will be somewhere in the middle. There is research on home learning that does indicate that it has value. However, not all home learning is equal. As you will see from the guidelines below the evidence for its benefit tends to get stronger as children get older. It’s also the case that certain tasks are much better than others. Short, recall tasks that consolidate learning are often the most effective. Prep or application tasks come a close second. There is very little evidence that extended research tasks or projects add much value (although can, in individual cases, drive passion and interest). 

We are pleased to announce the addition of a new page on our website dedicated to home learning guidelines. This resource, available on the Parent Room, has been meticulously crafted based on thorough consideration and research. Aligned with the school's learning principles, these guidelines strike the ideal balance between home and school life. The link to this valuable resource has been shared exclusively with our current parents. Visit the Parent Room to explore and benefit from these thoughtfully curated guidelines.

Have a lovely weekend everyone. 

James Wellings,
Head of School