Homework at Grace Academy Solihull
At Grace Academy Solihull we know that a student makes the best progress when they continue their learning both in and outside of school, which is why we consider homework to be a key part of our approach to learning here. Research collated by the Education Endowment Foundation suggests that students who regularly engage with and complete homework throughout their secondary school education make an average of five months additional progress compared to their peers. We are also aware that homework needs to be clear and readily accessible for students to be able to engage fully, and that the benefits that this additional study offers is maximised when students receive timely feedback.
Our homework allows students to:
- Revise what they have been taught so that they remember it for the long term, and ensure they make outstanding progress. This is supported by our daily retrieval quizzes, alongside bespoke maths and reading support using the Sparx platforms.
- Manage their homework and maintain a regular pattern of study.
- Benefit from instant feedback and opportunities to improve.
- Have the opportunity to further research and explore topics related to the curriculum to develop their cultural capital. This is supported by our remote enrichment opportunities, and additional learning detailed below.
What homework does my child need to complete to help them revise?
Daily Retrieval Quizzes: satchelone.com
Home learning at Grace Academy Solihull utilises the online Satchel One platform which can be accessed via the website www.satchelone.com or by using the Satchel One app on a mobile phone or tablet. Students are set daily retrieval quizzes which support them to revise what they have been taught in lessons so that they remember it for the long term and continue to make outstanding progress. These quizzes will automatically be visible to students when they login and students get instant feedback on which questions they have answered correctly. The results from this quiz are then reviewed by teachers who adapt their lessons to address any areas of weakness and build upon students’ strengths.
Sparx Maths: sparxmaths.com
To support your child with their progress in mathematics, students will also complete home learning using Sparx Maths. Sparx Maths is a platform of over 45000 mathematics questions which are personalised and set for students to ensure that all students are both supported and challenged. Students also receive instant feedback on their work and can view explanatory videos to support with any areas they need to practise. Students will be taught how to access Sparx Maths and complete tasks during one of their mathematics lessons.
Sparx Reader: sparxreader.com
Sparx Reader will also be launched with students and provides students with access to age-appropriate texts, targeted towards their reading ability, in order to support them with their reading fluency and comprehension.
Additional Homework:
Teacher’s may also supplement the online homework offer, as detailed above, with additional paper-based homework to stretch your child’s learning.
What additional homework could my child complete to help them progress further?
Additional Home Learning: sites.google.com/graceacademy.org.uk/ga-additional-learning/home
One key skill students need to develop is the ability to work independently and to develop study and research skills. To give students a structured way of developing these skills we have developed an additional home learning section on the website which includes websites and projects they could consider to further enrich their understanding.
While there are other websites you may use, these are websites our teachers have used before to provide an enriching experience.
Recorded Lessons: drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pO7vhvugS7XHIZ_VbKTI24FUDaOL4KqT
As you will know during the pandemic teachers at the academy delivered hundreds of hours of content to all students. All students have access to this full bank of resources and could use this material to identify areas of weakness, or to explore topics they have studied in past years or will study in future years.
You can identify what your child is studying this year at the moment, or in previous years in the Curriculum section of the website. All of these recorded lessons can be found in the link above.
What if they can’t log on, or would like some more support?
If your child experiences any difficulties in logging in then they should discuss it with their computing teacher and tutor or contact our ICT team at Gas-Student-ICT-Support@