Self Study or homework is an integral part of the Deer Park curriculum and is structured to ensure that students progress and creativity is continually challenged.

We believe that completing work outside lessons helps students in a number of ways:-

It develops valuable study habits
It teaches the importance of deadlines and consolidates and extends classroom learning
It encourages an enquiring mind
It affords the opportunity for enrichment
It ensures opportunities to practise and consolidate new skills
It enables students to think critically and creatively
The impact of self-study on learning is consistently positive (leading to on average five months' additional progress)

Self Study is:

Used to promote independent learning in order to support, extend and consolidate progress
Used to develop skills and attitudes students need for successful lifelong learning
Used to consolidate and extend on learning in the classroom
Used to practice skills needed in examinations
Used to help teachers and students identify strengths and weaknesses
Adapted and appropriate to the learning needs of students
Given in accordance with the school’s Self Study entitlement timetable

Key Stage 3:

Self-study at KS3 is set frequently with a weekly or fortnightly deadline. Tasks should take a student up to 30 minutes to complete per subject area. The emphasis should be on the quality of the response and not the amount completed.

If a project is set over a period of weeks then the subject teachers should provide a clear outline of what is expected for each task and a way of checking in stages that the work is being completed. (E.g. flyer outlining criteria for each task and ticked off when completed)

In order to facilitate the transition from Year 6 to Year 7, we feel it is important to phase in the Self-study tasks for Year 7. This is in order to support students with the transition from Year 6 to Year 7.

Year 7 phased Self-study

• September: English, Maths, ICT, Science and MFL vocabulary
• December: MFL, Art, Music, Dance and Drama
• February: History, Geography, RE and Technology

Self-study tasks and deadlines must be recorded in students' planners.

Listed are some examples of potential self-study tasks at KS3:

Google Quiz / Kahoot
Vocabulary learning
Extended reading with comprehension questions
Quizlet
Worksheet
Practice papers (Self marking)

Self-study tasks will usually involve peer or self marking to enable instant reflection and feedback for improvement. This may be conducted in a variety of ways by the class teacher.