Thank you for your support of your child with homework this term. As you know, we have moved to a new approach to ensure that learning outside of the classroom is consistent and allows students to consolidate their learning.
Your patience with us whilst we ironed out the login issues as we moved from Microsoft to Google has been much appreciated along with your suggestions of how we can further improve and support you and the students moving forward.
Homework at KS3
A reminder that students in Years 7-9 have homework set weekly in Maths, English and Science. All homework for KS3 students is now set using Sparx. This means that there is one platform and one single login for students. Once logged into Sparx, students can switch between the three homework tasks using the menu bar in the top right corner of the screen.
Sparx Maths is set every Tuesday and is due by the following Tuesday
Sparx Reader is set every Wednesday and is due by the following Wednesday
Sparx Science is set every Thursday and is due by the following Thursday
Homework at KS4
Students in Years 10 and 11 have homework set weekly in all of their subjects except PSHE. Departments are using a wider variety of online platforms as well as more traditional homework tasks to best meet the needs of the students and the GCSE specifications that students are following.
Platforms being used include: Sparx Maths, Seneca learning, Everlearner and iAchieve.
Please note that from Thursday 7th November, Science homework at KS4 will also be set on Sparx Science. We are really excited by this development as we know that it will have such a positive impact on student progress.
In Year 10:
Sparx Maths and Option A subject homework is set on a Tuesday
English and Option B subject homework is set on a Wednesday
Science and Option C subject homework is set on a Thursday
Option D subject homework is set on a Friday
In Year 11:
Sparx Maths and Option A subject homework is set on a Tuesday
English and Option B subject homework is set on a Wednesday
Science and Option C subject homework is set on a Thursday
All Students in Years 7 - 11 have 7 days to complete each homework task and this is extended over the school holidays.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know what homework my child has been set?
The school is still using Edulink to communicate what homework tasks have been set. As a parent you will get a notification when a task has been set on Edulink. Teachers will post links to the online platform and homework task on Edulink for your child to access and will remind students of the deadline.
Edulink has a checklist function to help students to ‘tick off’ the tasks that have been set to help them with their organisation. To submit homework, students must ensure that they press ‘submit’ on the platform they are using.
How can I support my child with login issues?
Edulink can be accessed via the school website and clicking the login with google button. This is linked to your child’s school email address. For example, joebloggs24@barnwoodpark.co.uk and the password that they use in school to access the network.
The number after their name relates to the year they started at Barnwood.
Y7 = 24
Y8 = 23
Y9 = 22
Y10 = 21
Y11 = 20
At KS3, you will also receive emails from Sparx informing you of your child’s progress with the week’s homework task.
At KS4, you may also get a notification via email from Seneca letting you know what tasks have been set.
My child is in KS3 but I am seeing other subjects on Edulink?
The school is currently using Edulink for students to access any cover work tasks that are set if their class teacher is absent. Please do not worry about this - it is the Sparx Maths, Sparx Reader and Sparx Science links that relate to your child’s homework.
What happens if my child does not complete their homework?
If your child has not achieved 100% completion and/or has not spent the required time on their homework, they will be set a homework detention. These are set for the day after a homework task is due. This term, we have been monitoring students who have regularly not been completing homework and not attending their homework detentions or working lunch in Y11. Conversations are taking place with students and home to help support. After half term, persistent failure to complete homework and not attend detentions in years 7 -10 will result in a day in Alternative Provision (AP).
How will I know if my child has been set a homework detention?
Detentions are set on Edulink for Years 7 - 10 and you will get a notification when a detention has been set.
What support is available to help my child with their homework?
Our website has links to support guides for a variety of the online platforms that we are using in school.
Homework clinics, where students can access subject specific support, run every lunchtime in the library.
Students have access to IT facilities at lunchtime to be able to complete their homework in school. Year 7 can use DT6 and Y8-10 can use the library.
Y11 have flying start, working lunch and champion’s hour to support them with their studies.
Years 7-10 can also attend homework club in the library every afternoon from 3:15–4:00pm to help them complete their homework.
Homework Congratulations
Students have worked hard this half term adjusting to the new way in which homework is set and completed and as a school we have seen a dramatic increase in the numbers of students completing homework and achieving 100% completion rate. The effort that students are putting into their work both in and out of the classroom reflects the school’s values of Ambition, Determination and Success.
Top achieving Sparx Form groups (highest completion rates) for Science were:
7R - 87 %
8R - 83 %
9S - 90 %
