Drogheda Grammar School

Homework Policy

Purpose of Homework

Homework is an integral part of every student’s learning programme. It reinforces what has been taught in class, prepares students for upcoming lessons and helps students develop self-discipline, responsibility and organisational skills.

Appropriate times for homework per day

The nature and content of homework is a matter for individual subject teachers. The Homework policy endeavours to provide guidance to students, parents and teachers regarding the total homework/study allocation per day. It is expected by the school, that each student should spend approximately the following length of time on homework/study each day:

Note: Leaving Cert – A minimum of 3 Hours per night. Weekend study and revision is essential.

NB:     Exam students should not be employed in part-time work

Types of Homework

Homework can be short term i.e. due for the next day or long term e.g. writing of an essay or completion of a project. The range of tasks appropriate for students of various ages is many and varied. Some examples of appropriate Homework tasks are found below:

The above list is neither prescriptive nor exhaustive.

It is recommended that all students should spend time at home on their studies whether or not work has been assigned. Homework, both written and oral is considered of equal importance. If no homework has been set then students have an obligation to go over material they have recently studied in class to ensure they have fully understood it.

If a student has been absent (including for extra-curricular activities), the onus is on the student to discover what work has been set and to endeavour to complete it within the time given in as far as possible.
If the student has been ill, a period of time will be given to the student to complete missed assignments.

The Homework Journal

At Drogheda Grammar School, each student is provided with a Homework Journal at the beginning of the academic year. Students are required to have this journal at every lesson throughout the school day. They are also required to write all assigned tasks into the appropriate day. The Journal is a record of all homework set throughout the year and also provides another link between home and the school. Students should be mindful of the fact that their journal may be inspected by Parents/Guardians, Teachers etc.

Before students leave school each day they should check that they have all the books, copies and any other material necessary to complete that night’s homework.

Teachers and Parents/Guardians may communicate via the notes section provided at the back of the journal. These journals may be monitored by form tutors and year heads. In Forms 1, 2 and 4 there is a requirement for Parents/Guardians to sign the journal weekly.

Implementation and Sanctions

The school should ensure that homework is an integral part of the curriculum and is planned and prepared alongside all other programmes of learning.

Pupils will record and ensure their understanding of the homework tasks and demonstrate a commitment to spending an allocated time doing the tasks set and handing the work back on time.

Students who do not produce the required homework in class will be given until 9 a.m. to hand it in or be provided with an Opportunity for learning the following day at Lunchtime.

It is very important that homework including sanctions for not completing it should be consistently applied across the school so that all pupils see the arrangements as fair.

Arrangements for monitoring and evaluating homework policy

The effectiveness of the policy needs to be monitored and reviewed regularly. It is envisaged that each subject department monitors homework within the department at subject department meetings. Teachers need to evaluate the quality of homework and the contribution it is making to learning. In addition to monitoring arrangements the homework policy needs to be reviewed regularly to assess its effectiveness. The key criterion should be the extent to which the policy is contributing to the progress students make at school and their attitude to learning.

Homework for Boarders

Boarding and Day-Boarding students have prep each evening after supper. Students in the junior cycle and Transition Year have prep from 6 p.m. until 8.20 p.m. with a break. Students in 5th and 6th year have prep from 6 p.m. until 9.15 p.m. with two breaks.

Signed: ______________________________
Chairperson of the Board of Management
Date: ________________________________
Policy due for review: ___________________