Home Learning

Research has consistently shown the positive link between completing home learning and a student’s overall performance.

By valuing home learning, students are afforded the chance to practice skills and consolidate understanding of work covered in the classroom and achieve their very best.

At KES we value more than just grades and want our students to leave us as well rounded individuals ready for the adult world.

Home learning enables students to develop good study habits; develop self-discipline, independence and the ability to take responsibility for their own learning. We encourage students to use their free time to explore their own interests however completion of home learning is key expectation within our provision at KES.  

Parents and students have full access to all the home learning set via the website 'Satchel One' (formally known as Show My Homework). When a piece of home learning is set, teachers will add the task (and any additional resources) to Satchel One. Students should check this every day.

Students should use the option to SIGN IN WITH RM UNIFY and use their school log-in details. Students who have any issues with logging in should go to K15 at break times.

Students will be set home learning on a regular schedule outlined in the pdf attachment below.

To ensure that your child is receiving the help and support they need to reach their full potential, failure to hand in Homelearning will mean that your child will be required to attend a C2 (30min) detention with their class teacher to complete the work. Failure to attend a C2 detention will mean that your child will be required to attend a C3 detention.

All non-completion is tracked carefully so in the event that students are regularly failing to complete their homelearning or attend their class teacher detentions, they will be enrolled in a 3 week Homelearning Workshop (Thursday 2.10-3.10pm) where they will receive one to one support in developing the habits and skills to complete their homelearning.

How KES supports parents

• Information regarding homelearning is sent to all parents regularly and available on the school website
• Parents can send queries into admin team to be forwarded to specific staff (including HOY/tutor or individual teachers)

All C2/C3 detentions create notifications via Parent Gateway when set (You will receive an additional email if your child is expected at the Homelearning Workshops which outlines the dates they are expected to attend and students will be notified by their form tutor.)

• The admin team can be contacted via the gateway by parents for support with SatchelOne
• Parents receive half termly update on Attendance, Punctuality, Number of house points and Homelearning detentions.
• Regular quality assurance of homelearning set by staff
• If your child would like somewhere quiet to complete their Homelearning, our school Library is open every day afterschool for students to work independently until 3.30pm.
• We offer a Homelearning Support club (hosted in D3 by Mrs. Pack) for students who may require additional guidance from a Learning Support Assistant. This club runs Monday to Thursday until 3.30pm.  Please note that there is no late bus available on Wednesdays.

How KES supports students

• 1 piece of homelearning a night set on a regular predictable schedule
• Homelearning tasks have a minimum turnaround time of 3 days to support time management
• The admin team are available at breaks to support with SatchelOne log-in issues
• The library is available at break times and after school for independent work and IT access (Mon, Tues, Thurs in line with the late bus)
• Students can request printed worksheets from staff
• In exceptional circumstances, students may request extensions by seeking out their teacher before the due date
• Any students requiring further support completing their homelearning should attend the Homelearning Support Club (Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs 2.10 to 3.30pm)
• Each half term - students with fewest sanctions/highest homelearning house points are celebrated in assembly, awarded 10 house points and letter sent home

KS3 Home Learning information

Your child will be using a half-termly knowledge organiser which will be provided electronically via SatchelOne and given specific instructions to help them embed key knowledge and skills to their long term memory.

We encourage students to use their free time to explore their own interests as well as engage in reading for pleasure.  Our English department’s recommended reading list can be found here on our school website:  English Essentials Reading List - The King Edmund School (kes.essex.sch.uk) 

KS4 Home Learning information

The homelearning policy for KS4 also centres around ‘retrieval practice’. Retrieval practice allows students to engage in meaningful learning in an efficient time frame.  

The home learning process will require the use of the online platform GCSEPod. Your child has been given their log-in details for GCSEPOD and has been shown the platform during tutor time. It is available on all devices and has several additional accessibility options available.

Queries or questions?

For any queries around the home learning process, please contact the school as we are here to support the homelearning process and help all students achieve their personal best