Homework Setting in Maths

by Kayleigh Clare,
Lead Teacher of Maths


For years, many teachers have had what we call ‘parallel’ sets or classes of a similar ability and it seemed as though every teacher was planning their own homework! So about five years ago, I introduced the homework rota system which we have continually tweaked and still use today.

I set this academic year’s rota back in July and tried to ensure that it is fair across the department, including part time staff, that there is consistency in homework setting and that the quality of homework being set is high. Therefore instead of setting say an average of 6 different homework’s per week, class teachers created a maximum of two homework booklets for a half term.

The expectation of homework for Year 7-9 is that they show all their working out on the next page, here is a great example from a Year 8 student. We get the students to self or peer mark homework during the lesson time and then the homework is RAG rated by the class teacher and checked when they mark their books.
The RAG rating is recorded in the maths area on a spread sheet and is a very useful way of tracking the progress of students.
 
In Years 10 and the start of year 11 we have given out targeted booklets and alternate this homework with an online VLE called Mathswatch. At the most recent parents evening we gave all parents our in class paper and homework schedule in the run to the exams so they are in the know of what we are expecting students to complete on a weekly basis. Already we have seen an improved return of homework completion on time and to a better standard.
Our next challenge is looking at how to promote independent study on top of our homework system and improving the standard of homework completion across year groups.
 
 


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