Independent Learning
Independent learning forms an extremely important part of our vision and philosophy. Our students are encouraged where possible to seek solutions, answers and deepen learning through their own resourcefulness and curiosity. Moreover, they should continually question thier knowledge and understanding to discover further and challenge their higher order thinking skills.
Independent study is our preferred name for homework. It is an extension of the learning in the classroom, designed to consolidate and challenge. All students will receive regular Independent Study across the range of subjects.
We have an extensive range of IT resources located across the school and a well-resourced library.
Year 7 Homework Timetable
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Mon 1 |
Tues 1 |
Wed 1 |
Thurs 1 |
Frid 1 |
Mon 2 |
Tues 2 |
Wed 2 |
Thurs 2 |
Frid 2 |
|
7A |
RS Biology |
Physics History |
Geog English |
Chemistry Languages |
Music Maths |
RS Computing |
Chemistry History |
Geog Tech |
Physics Biology |
Maths English Art |
|
7B |
English Languages |
Geog Chemistry |
RS Biology
|
Maths Physics |
Music History |
English Tech |
Geog Computing |
RS History |
Maths Chemistry |
Physics Biology Art |
|
7C |
RS Biology |
Maths Chemistry |
Physics Tech |
Geog English |
Music History |
RS Computing |
Maths Biology |
Chemistry History |
Geog English |
Physics Languages Art |
|
7O |
Physics History |
Chemistry Biology |
Geog English |
RS Tech |
Music Maths |
Chemistry Computing |
RS History |
Geog Biology |
Physics Languages |
Maths English Art |
|
7H |
English History
|
RS Chemistry |
Physics Computing |
Music Biology |
Geog Maths |
Chemistry Tech |
English History |
Geog Physics |
RS Biology |
Maths Languages Art |
Year 8 Homework Timetable
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8V |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
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Week 1 |
Science Geography Technology |
English Mandarin |
Music History Computing |
Maths RS |
Art LS French |
|
Week 2 |
Technology History LS |
Science Geography French |
Music Computing |
Maths English |
Art Mandarin RS |
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8W |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
|
Week 1 |
Technology Science French |
RS Mandarin |
Music English Geography |
Maths LS |
Art History Computing |
|
Week 2 |
Technology RS Mandarin |
English French LS |
Music History Geography |
Maths Science |
Art Computing |
|
8X |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
|
Week 1 |
Science Geography History |
English Spanish |
Music Computing |
Maths Technology LS |
Art RS French |
|
Week 2 |
Science History LS |
Technology Spanish RS |
Music Geography English |
Maths French |
Art Computing |
|
8Y |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
|
Week 1 |
History Geography LS |
Science English |
Music Spanish Computing |
Maths Technology RS |
Art French |
|
Week 2 |
History Geography |
Science Technology English |
Music Spanish |
Maths French LS |
Art Computing RS |
|
8Z |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
|
Week 1 |
Science French |
English Spanish LS |
Music Computing RS |
Maths Geography Technology |
Art History |
|
Week 2 |
Geography RS LS |
Science French Technology |
Music English Spanish |
Maths History |
Art Computing |
Year 9 Homework Timetable
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|
Mon 1 |
Tues 1 |
Wed 1 |
Thurs 1 |
Frid 1 |
Mon 2 |
Tues 2 |
Wed 2 |
Thurs 2 |
Frid 2 |
|
9A |
Technology PE English |
Maths Music Computing |
Physics Religious Studies Spanish |
Chemistry French |
Geography Art Biology |
English Technology Physics |
Maths Religious Studies |
Geography PE Learning Skills |
French History Biology |
Spanish Chemistry |
|
9B |
Computing History English |
Geography Maths Technology |
Chemistry French Biology |
Art Religious Studies Physics |
PE Spanish |
Geography Music Computing |
Maths Technology |
History Learning Skills French |
Religious Studies Biology
|
Physics Spanish English |
|
9C |
Art Spanish Chemistry |
Maths Religious Studies PE |
Biology Physics Music |
Geography English History |
French Technology |
Biology Art
|
Maths History Religious Studies |
English Learning Skills Technology |
Geography PE Physics |
French Spanish Chemistry |
|
9O |
Spanish Computing Chemistry |
Maths English Religious Studies |
Biology Technology Learning Skills |
Geography History PE |
Art Music |
English Spanish
|
Geography Maths Religious Studies |
Computing Music Technology |
PE Biology |
History Physics French |
|
9H |
French Technology PE |
Maths Art Religious Studies
|
Biology Computing Music |
Physics History English |
Geography Chemistry |
Spanish French Biology |
Geography Maths History |
Computing Learning Skills Technology |
French Religious Studies PE |
English Physics Spanish |
Year 10 Homework Timetable
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Week 1 |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
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Week 2 |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
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NB: when learning lines for Drama, it be small amounts each day
Library
The Library is situated on the ground floor of the Grange Building and is regarded by many as the heart of the school, the natural home for individual and independent learning. It is open from 8.15am to 3.30pm during term time and is staffed by one Librarian. Years 7-11 have one period a fortnight in the library as part of English lessons to encourage and widen reading choices and improve literacy skills.
Year 12 & 13 are expected to use the resources in the library for their independent study.
A wide variety of titles are available for loan from a stock of over 7000 Fiction and Non-Fiction books and there is also a Reference section. Seven networked computers are available for students to use. The Library uses ‘Eclipse.Net’ – an online catalogue enabling students access from anywhere in the school.
Thanks to generous funding from the Parents and Friends Association the school takes part in Bookbuzz, a reading initiative from Booktrust aimed at Year 7 to encourage reading for pleasure. Year 7 also take part in Readathon and have raised considerable amounts of money for the Roald Dahl Foundation and CLIC Sargent charities.
Book groups are run throughout the year for students in Years 7 – 10 and encourage wider, varied reading. Books are selected from different authors and genres with Year 9 students following the prestigious Carnegie shortlist. Pupils are encouraged to discuss their opinions on all aspects of the books including characters, language, plot, style of writing, book covers, books into films etc. The groups are usually full of lively debate and strong opinions with students often joining again in the following year group.
The Library holds events throughout the year and recent ones have included; Harry Potter Day, ‘Comic Capers’ on World Book Day and The Extreme Reading Challenge.
Reading for pleasure
How do we define ‘reading for pleasure’?
‘Reading for pleasure refers to reading that we do of our own free will anticipating the satisfaction that we will get from the act of reading. It also refers to reading that having begun at someone else’s request we continue because we are interested in it. It typically involves materials that reflect our own choice, at a time and place that suits us.’ (National Literacy Trust, 2006)
Reading for pleasure improves results
A recent report by the Institute of Education (September 2013) has found that children who read for pleasure made more progress in maths, vocabulary and spelling between the ages of 10 and 16 than those who rarely read.
For further information please see the article on the Reading Zone website
http://www.readingzone.com/index.php?zone=sz&page=fullnews&id=1783
For the full report please click on the link ‘2013/10 Sullivan, A and Brown, M. (2013) Social inequalities in cognitive scores at age 16 : The role of reading. CLS Working Paper 2013/10. London: Centre for Longitudinal Studies.’
Many factors can influence reading habits. If you are interested in reading further on the subject please see the report by the NLT. For help with book choices and for up to date reviews/articles please try one of the website links under the library heading.
National Literacy Trust 2006 http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/assets/0000/0562/Reading_pleasure_2006.pdf
