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Secondary education

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Original poster

Summer homework for Sep Y7 starters - how much is normal?

52 replies

reup · 04/07/2014 19:37

At a transition day my son was given a 25 page booklet covering all subjects. There are a few simple pages, several projects and some tasks will involve several hours work. Overall I can imagine it being at least a weeks work (6 hours etc) Is this the norm? He's my first at secondary.

(There is also a spelling mistake and one awful sentence that barely makes sense)

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lljkk · 04/07/2014 19:50

DD is finishing yr7 & was not given any homework to do last summer. Is this a state school?

anothermakesthree · 04/07/2014 19:51

Gosh. State or Independent? Grammar or comp? Never heard of this before. My DD was given a suggested Summer reading list on her transition day 2 years ago! Seems OTT.

Original poster
reup · 04/07/2014 19:59

Just the local comp, I feel sick at thee thought of it, They also offer a 2 week transition camp so theoretically they might have a couple of free days over the 6 weeks to themselves!

My son has massive problems with writing and never reads so I was going to nag him into reading one book - one of their tasks is to read 6 (that library summer challenge thing)

My biggest fear us that we will slog through it and then the teachers will barely acknowledge it)

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jeandawson · 04/07/2014 20:18

Reup I don't think he needs to stress about doing it. Was the same at DS induction last year. He actually did the whole thing and earned merits and some money (which went down very well!) ..... but was the only boy to be rewarded, so he felt v uncool!
But most kids didn't bother and there was no come back.

TheFirstOfHerName · 04/07/2014 20:20

Er... none. Either time.

littledrummergirl · 04/07/2014 20:22

Ds1 had to learn the witches lines from macbeth.
Ds2 did nothing.

Different schools.

Original poster
reup · 04/07/2014 20:23

I'm stressing more than him! He's mostly oblivious and has no motivation to ever do anything over the bare minimum.(and that's only done under duress) I would have been a fantastic mother of a girly swot like I was. My mum was the laid back one! Its obviously generational.

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17leftfeet · 04/07/2014 20:24

The state school my dd attends and dd2 will attend gives them 12 tasks to do of which they choose 4

When dd1 started she spent maybe 6 hours across the 6 week holidays doing it

It wasn't marked but they got the first credits for the school award scheme to start them off on the right foot

Original poster
reup · 04/07/2014 20:26

Thanks everyone.

I may able to motivated him with some hope of a reward!

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BackforGood · 04/07/2014 23:37

Er - none - for any of my 3 dc, at 2 different schools, nor my nieces at a different school.

gleegeek · 04/07/2014 23:55

Dd has a short book to read and briefly review. She's finished it already so I'll get her to write the review this weekend!
Your poor ds has obviously drawn the short straw!

Dragonlette · 05/07/2014 00:00

None at all in any of the schools I've taught in or the school dd1 attends.

Don't bother. Do the library reading thing, at least you get stickers every couple of weeks with that one and he can choose to read whatever he wants, let him choose easy books if he wants as long as he's reading them.

Kenlee · 05/07/2014 01:06

We never did anything. Bar go on holiday and talked about strategies how to deal with awkard people. The importance to listen in lessons.

In fact at Easter we had a really nice Email reminding us our daughter is on holiday.Please ask her not to revise.
So we went on holiday to Taipei (btw its a must if your in Asia).

So definitely not normal.

PastSellByDate · 05/07/2014 01:13

Hi reup:

DD1 (starting Y7 in Sept 2014) was also assigned a project - make a persuasive display about a favourite book you read this summer. The room was a bit noisy so I didn't catch what the reward was - but the idea is that the most persuasive will win something - kids seemed excited.

I guess it will be about a week's worth of work as well if you include reading/ planning time + making display. But DD1 likes this kind of thing and can spend a lot of time on designing/ colouring in/ cutting & pasting for things like this. I suspect, knowing her, it will involve glitter!

Ordinary state comprehensive.

I think it's no bad thing to have a little bit of work to be getting on with over the summer - prevents total brain rot and gives me an excuse to ask her to turn off Disney channel (lovely though it is) or better yet - give her the option of playing outside/ watering my plants or doing school work (odd how she's always willing to get fresh air if it means deferring work).

ElephantsNeverForgive · 05/07/2014 01:13

Non!

Had DD2 got holiday HW I think she'd have been on tbe phone to the council to ask about school waiting lists.

Which reminds me, DD1 needs to get a science book to do her promised (only to me) pre Y12 HW.

Original poster
reup · 05/07/2014 07:36

But past sellbydate he has one of those sort of projects for each subject! And there are 9 subjects! English by itself has read 6 books and write about some, collect 10+ examples of different writing and then write about them plus write a story.

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Original poster
reup · 05/07/2014 07:42

The ironic thing is the school had individual parent inteviews and they said they weren't heavy on the homework at first!

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PastSellByDate · 05/07/2014 09:39

Sorry re-up - I thought you were suggesting all your DC was assigned would add up to about 1 week's worth of work - which I would imagine would be = to what my DD1 was assigned. It actually sounds like there's a lot more work there.

The fact that it's an ordinary comprehensive asking for this much work over the summer is interesting.

Do they have data that there is a serious dip in performance of pupils who don't do anything over the summer?

All I can suggest is do a little each day.

I get that probably many won't do it - but it will put your DS in a good light vis a vis the school (and you by extension) - that you knew your DC was assigned something & supported him doing it. I rather expect it's a test - one of many your DS will be subjected to in these first few months at secondary - and if it's anything like ours it's worth 'playing the game' and doing your best - as this all helps the school form a good opinion about yoru DC and it is likely to result in being streamed into top or higher sets, which ultimately benefits your child.

Certainly around here (and we are surrounded by senior schools in special measures) the fight to be in top set and well away from disruptive pupils is worth having.

Original poster
reup · 05/07/2014 11:05

I was thinking of week of 6 hour days. Buts its probably more, depends how much effort is put into the projects! They don't set till year 8 for anything (unless it changes this year).

If there was one project I would really try and get him to do it well. As there are so many its rather overwhelming. There is a parents info thing next week so I may bring it up with the senco then. If they aren't helpful I may point out their spelling and grammatical errors!

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SuperSaint · 05/07/2014 12:43

DD just has to do a book review. They have been given a template (2 sides of A4) with headings like would you recommend the book and why and who would enjoy the book. They also have to design a new cover. She's an avid reader and loves drawing so it is perfect for her and won't take too long.

A whole week of homework sounds ridiculous. My DCs are either away on holiday (for 2 weeks) or in play schemes (because I am working) so would have to spend every weekend doing the homework.

PastSellByDate · 05/07/2014 14:10

I agree re-up - raise this at your meeting with the school and with SENCO. Worth discussing whether this does apply to your son & getting a better idea of what they're after.

HTH

ContentedSidewinder · 06/07/2014 00:14

Mine has been given one and I was shocked.

His is either a presentation about something he is passionate about (Minecraft no doubt) or something about what you have done this summer or a book review.

He will do about 30 minutes each day until it is done and then enjoy the rest of summer. The first week of the summer holidays is always pyjama week in our house where they just lounge about and relax.

I know it is to keep their brains ticking over, but Ds1 reads loads and enjoys it so he will do the book review.

Picturesinthefirelight · 06/07/2014 00:30

We were sent a summer holiday reading list (independent selective school) nice selection of fiction & biographies

Dd didn't end up going there (last min change if mind) but we kept the list as a useful guide.

clary · 06/07/2014 00:42

Are you sure he has to do it? I have never heard of this (I teach secondary and have 2 DC in secondary and one about to start).

Could it not be maybe a suggested list of holiday work in case he gets bored over the summer/you want him to do a bit of work to stop the summer dip? In which case it might not be a bad idea to do one or two bits? I agree, ask the school for more info.

Original poster
reup · 06/07/2014 07:26

It says please attempt to complete all the topics and give it to your teachers on first day back. Apart from the spelling and grammatical errors some of the photocopying is so dark or small you can't read it. They have to analyse some of the bits that are impossible to read. Its made me really doubt the school if they think this is reasonable. Some bits have been lifted from other work books and refer to things that are not present. I'm veering between despair and anger, I don't want to have my first lot of interaction with the school to be so negative.

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