I appreciate that DS1 is half a week from finishing Y7.
However, I am wondering whether either for the record or to maybe avoid a repeat in Y8- or even to get a valid explanation!- I should write to the Y7 Head of Year to, well, 'complain' about the homework situation.
The school is the highest attaining state Y7-11 comp in the county, academically. It prides itself on not setting except in maths and MFL at this stage- however, I believe it 'sets' via exam course trajectory ie only the clever, 'A*to B'-bound get to do a full Maths GCSE, others do 'Foundation'; or only the clever get to do triple not double science. And it could be seen to be resting a little on its laurels. It is also in a very leafy area, thus might be expected to turn out 'better than average' results.
Thing is, at the start of school, a huge song and dance was made about the importance of homework (and the sanctions imposed if it doesn't get done) esp bearing in mind the way the school have deliberately brought the boys' GCSE results up in line with girls' by constantly setting and monitoring mini-goals, doing little and often.
Theoretically DS could get 15 pieces of homework a week. Initially he was getting around 2 a night though some were 'learn these 2 lines for Drama', or 'find an interesting image that shows...' or 'decorate your history exercise book'! Now we're 'lucky' if we see one piece a week! Really! And that's been the situation since Easter. And when proper homework does come home, I'm back to Y3-style evasion and delay in getting DS to settle down and do it as he's so out of the habit. DS claims to 'do' homework in school (I see what's been set in his Diary) but I think the fact is there's so little he's getting into a bad habit of thinking 'Ah, is that all? -5 minutes work, I'll dash it off on the bus' rather than 'OK, I have 2 pieces, I'll do it as usual at 4pm at home'. DS2 in Y5 gets more to do!
Is there any point at all in writing to the HoY (who will be their Y8 HoY as well) to express my concerns? Or am I wasting my time? Would it be your opinion that they will think 'Look at our stellar GCSE results, we know what we're doing' - or maybe I should wait to see if they up their game in Y8 then write in if the same thing happens?
WWYD?
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Y7 homework- should I do anything?
39 replies
Erebus · 22/07/2011 08:34
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