Afterschool routines for secondary school especially Y11s

[cloughie100]

I now have 3 children at secondary school as DS3 just started Y7, DD in Y9 and Y11 so GCSEs looming. I’m conscious that I need to get a grip on our after school evenings to make sure everyone has some space and calm to study and also fit in other activities- our house always seems so chaotic. Can anyone share what happens in their house - do you have set homework times, homework in kitchen or bedroom, phone restrictions etc?!

Best policy I ever had was phones away when doing homework. We put them in a central basket in the kitchen where I could see them. Once they had finished the work they could have the phone back. All got great exam results.

I think you have to juggle after school clubs and homework. My view is that they all have supper at the same time but homework time needs to be built around any activities. Make a timetable and see when homework times are.

Mine went to boarding school and prep times were fixed every evening. Meal times were also fixed. When they were older and there was more prep, there was more time allocated to it. They had individual work spaces with lap tops. I think, therefore, you need to consider computer access when planning homework time. Definitely no phones.

We had a no phones rule too. Also DD1 had a laptop in her bedroom for h/w where we had blocked social media and games. Then she had access downstairs to one for those things. So I knew that she wasn't getting distracted when upstairs.

DD1 did h/w upstairs as primary age DD2 was downstairs (though that meant me traipsing up and down the stairs a lot in the earlier secondary years). Now DD2 is in secondary, she still does h/w downstairs as she needs help.