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A guide to Sidmouth College Page 1 Primley Road - Sidmouth - Devon Tel: 01395 514823 www.sidmouthcollege.devon.sch.uk Believe / Inspire / Succeed Self Study Guide Sidmouth College 2016/2017
A guide to Sidmouth College
Page 1
Primley Road - Sidmouth - Devon Tel: 01395 514823 www.sidmouthcollege.devon.sch.uk
Believe / Inspire / Succeed
Self Study Guide
Sidmouth College 2016/2017
Page 2
A guide to Sidmouth College
A Complete Guide to Self Study at Sidmouth College
This booklet is intended to help parents and students understand why homework is important and how best to tackle homework and revision.
In this booklet you will find -
Page 3 Summary of the homework policy
Page 4 Homework Statistics
Page 5 Show My Homework
Page 6 What is Revision?
Page 7 What can Parents do to Help?
Page 8 Using Pass Papers
Page 9 Revision Techniques
Page 11 Help in School
Page 12 Percentage of Coursework and Exam Information
Page 13 Key Dates for Examinations
Page 14 Contact Details
A guide to Sidmouth College
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A highly structured and enforced timetable for homework no longer serves a purpose at KS3. Instead: Core subjects will set at least one piece of homework, and usually two, each week as standard at KS3. Other subjects will be expected to set regular homework. This will be monitored by regular work scrutiny by members of SLT and by scrutiny of homework dia-ries by Heads of House and Tutors. Homework will be introduced in a measured, gradual and planned way in Year 7, as students adapt to the range, variety and scope of homework expectations. For the first two weeks, only core subjects will set regular homework. At KS4 homework will be set weekly in all subjects. At KS5, the expectation is that additional study tasks will to be set in every lesson. To access homework through logging into Show My Homework.
To ensure that homework is completed and handed in by the deadline.
To attempt all homework and to give their best effort.
Parents/ carers can assist by: Monitoring homework set through SMH. Reinforcing the value of homework through positive feedback, and provide students with the confidence to
persevere, work hard and reach high standards of achievement. Providing a quiet place to work at home. Checking the time spent on individual homework tasks. Checking presentation and content of all homework being returned to school, and that deadlines are being
met. Signing the homework planner each week. Providing the school with information about any problems, either through the homework planner or by con-
tacting the school directly through other means. The expectation of the length of homework task will depend on the curriculum time set for each subject, the nature of the work, the ability of the pupil and the Year Group. How much homework will students receive? On average, students should expect to receive the following: KS3: between 25-30 minutes per homework
KS4: between 30 minutes to 1 hour per homework
KS5: a minimum of 2 hours work per subject a week
Please see Sidmouth College website for the full homework policy.
The Homework Policy (in brief)
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A guide to Sidmouth College
Homework Statistics
The Average progress 8 score for all students which received an unsatisfactory for homework in their
last interim report in year 11 in 2015/16 was –0.87. This means on average they achieve almost 1
grade lower in each of their subjects.
Only 16% of students who received an unsatisfactory for homework in their last interim report in year
11 in 2015/16 achieved 5 A* - C grades including English and Maths.
Only 25% of students who received an unsatisfactory for homework in their last interim report in year
11 in 2015/16 achieved 5 or more A* - C grades.
Over 73% of the worst offending students for failing to complete homework in 2015/2016 did not
achieve 5 A* - C grades including English and Maths.
The Average progress 8 score for the top 10 worst offending students for failing to complete
homework in 2015/16 was 0.25 which means on average they achieve 25% lower in each of their
subjects.
Statistics taken from Sidmouth College students who took their GCSE’s in 2015/2016.
A guide to Sidmouth College
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Show my Homework
Show My Homework is an easy to use, online homework calendar for schools. Teachers set homework;
this appears on the homework calendar with all the relevant details such as deadlines and resources.
Students and parents can access this at any time via the web or their mobile phone, making homework
accessible and transparent for everyone.
Show My Homework makes it very easy to provide students a consistent message about homework in every lesson they walk into. So whether it is period 1 or period 5, whether it is Maths or French, stu-dents know they can access their homework via the school homework calendar. When you have this kind of consistency, it leads to ‘Outstanding’ outcomes, which reduces homework excuses and makes everything about homework transparent.
What if I am not very IT literate, can I still use it?
If you know how to send an email or browse the web, I’m confident you’ll be able to use Show My Homework with very little time or effort exerted.
Show My Homework can be accessed via the Sidmouth college home page.
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A guide to Sidmouth College
What is revision?
What it isn’t:
Revision is not, simply 'looking again' at the material covered in a course - it must be more of an active task to stimulate both sides of the brain and the long term memory receptors.
Do not simply just re-read the notes/books/text books.
What it is: Finding a way of studying and organising material in a way that works best for you. The approach you adopt and the techniques you use to revise are more vital than how long you spend on it. Sometimes the thought of having to revise can seem daunting, but be reassured, revision skills and techniques can be learned and practised. Try not to simply memorise work. It will always be more useful to understand it clearly. If you’re not sure you understand it: ASK!
A guide to Sidmouth College
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What Can Parents do to Help?
Show My Homework:
Look regularly on Show My Homework to make sure homework is up to date and compelted to a good standard.
Communication with college: Contact the College if you are concerned about any homework issues. Speak to the class teacher to try
and find out what the task is or if your child is struggling let the College know.
Be positive:
Encourage your child to complete their homework regularly and praise them when they do.
Create a work area:
If possible create a work area that is free from distractions (e.g. no TV’s, phones or consoles). Create an area which your child has a desk and enough space to work.
Create a timetable and structure:
Help your child manage their homework or revision by helping them create a timetable or a certain time after school which homework or revision is completed before anything else. This way it will get them into good habits early on.
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A guide to Sidmouth College
Using Past Papers
Pass papers are a good way of revising. The are an effective way to improve exam technique and to
understand what the examiners are looking for.
How to use pass papers:
Find out what exam board your subject is with (see below)
Use their websites to find all the pass papers
Look at the mark scheme to know where you went wrong and what the examiner is looking for.
Try a paper at your own pace, then use the mark scheme to grade it (teachers can help as well)
Review the information you need to improve on and what you know.
Revise the material you needed to improve on and then try another paper.
AQA OCR Edexcel WJEC
Business Music Maths Catering
Drama Geog B RE (Full) French
Art: Photography Science (21st Century) History
Art Biology
D&T Product Design Chemistry Level 1/2
D&T: Textiles Physics BTEC Science H & S Care Computing
History Media
P.E.
English Lit Highlighted subjects are for year 10 exams only English Lang
Combined Science
Biology, Chemistry and Physics
A guide to Sidmouth College
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Revision Techniques
MAPPING: This helps you organise ideas and thoughts. Start with a theme/main idea in the centre of the
page – work outwards.
Each branch must relate to the branch before.
Use only key words and images.
Poster/Flowchart/Timelines
You could create posters to show your ideas and have them around your room.
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A guide to Sidmouth College
Revision Techniques
Thought Trees
Get your ideas into a large thought tree this is clear and quick to see the information (use questions and images as well)
Glossaries
Create a ‘word bank’ of words you don’t understand but need to use. Make a poster/personal dictionary of these words.
Flash Cards
Bullet-pointing information can be a great help in organising your ideas.
A guide to Sidmouth College
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Help in School
There are a number of places where you can get help with revision or homework within school.
Teachers should be your first point of call. Ask them if you don’t understand anything and ask them
before the day it is due in!
Homework club in Student Support on a Wednesday and Thursday evening is specifically designed to
help those would are struggling with homework, those who need a little help organising them selves
and those who would prefer to get work done at school. There are always members of staff there to
help answer any questions and computers available to use when needed.
Intervention is designed for Year 11 pupils to make sure they are achieving their target grades. The
majority of pupils said that it was beneficial and achieve beyond what they were expected last year.
Below is the intervention time for 2016/2017 year 11’s.
Week 1 Timetable Week 2 Timetable
Day Lunch Afterschool Day Lunch Afterschool
Monday Option B Maths Monday Maths Option B
Tuesday Option C English Tuesday English Option C
Wednesday Option A Science Wednesday Science Option A
Thursday Option D RE Thursday RE Option D
Friday *Drama Friday *Drama
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A guide to Sidmouth College
Percentage of Coursework and Exam Information
Subject % C/wk 2015-17
C/Wk Start Date
C/Wk End Date
English Language 0% NA NA
English Literature 0% NA NA
Mathematics 0% NA NA
Biology 25% September 16 December 16
Chemistry 25% September 16 December 16
Physics 25% September 16 December 16
Additional Science 25% June 16 December 16
Computer Science 20% September 2016 February 2017
French 60% April 2016 September 2016
History 25% June 2016 October 2016
Geography 25% September 2016 November 2016
Religious Ed 0% NA NA
Art 60% September 2015 May 2017
Photography 60% September 2015 May 2017
Drama 60% October 2016 Dec 2016, April 2017
Music 60% April / Sept 2016 April 2017
Physical Ed 60% September 2015 February 2017
Health and Social Care 60% April 2016 February 2017
Catering 60% June 2016 January 2017
Textiles 60% May 2016 January 2017
Product Design 60% March 2016 February 2017
Business 25% January 2016 November 2016
A guide to Sidmouth College
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Key Dates for Examinations
Year 11 GCSE trial exams Monday 9th – Monday 16th January (inc) GCSE Maths & English trial exams Tuesday 21st – Friday 24th March Year 11 Art & Photography GCSE exams Art – Monday 24th April & Wednesday 3rd May Photography 11B - Monday 27th March & Monday 24th April Photography 11D – Wednesday 29th March & Wednesday 26th April GCSE Public Exams Monday 15th May – Wednesday 28th June Year 10 GCSE trial exams Monday 26th – Friday 30th June Year 9 Maths, English and Science exams Monday 26th – Friday 30th June
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A guide to Sidmouth College
Contact Details
Subject Head of Department Email
English Language Mrs Lucas [email protected]
English Literature Mrs Lucas [email protected]
Mathematics Mr Evans [email protected]
Biology Mr Jolley [email protected]
Chemistry Mr Jolley [email protected]
Physics Mr Jolley [email protected]
Combined Science Mr Jolley [email protected]
Religious Education Miss Hext [email protected]
Computer Science Mr Wickins [email protected]
French Mrs Henkus [email protected]
History Miss Hext [email protected]
Geography Miss Hext [email protected]
Art Mrs Carr [email protected]
Photography Mrs Carr [email protected]
Drama Miss Davies [email protected]
Music Mr Hickman [email protected]
Physical Education Mrs Malton [email protected]
Food & Nutrition Mr Daly [email protected]
Textiles Mr Daly [email protected]
Product Design Mr Daly [email protected]
Business Ms Preston [email protected]
Media Mrs Jenkins [email protected]
Health & Social Care Mrs Whitworth [email protected]
Head of House Staff Member Email
Grenville Miss Hughes [email protected]
Scott Mr Dale [email protected]
Raleigh Mrs Gill [email protected]
Drake Mr Whitworth [email protected]
Primley Road - Sidmouth - Devon Tel: 01395 514823 www.sidmouthcollege.devon.sch.uk
Believe / Inspire / Succeed
