Home Learning Policy Subject – Design Technology

Aim and rationale of home learning for subject area

Key stage 3 (Year 7 and 8)

•Home learning projects are set once through each of the 3 specialisms, they are introduced at the start of the 13 week module and expected in towards the end. Students are expected to produce one for Food, Product Design and Textiles.

•Students are to complete 1 task in each specialism, 3 times a year, there may also be other small pieces of traditional homelearning such as bringing in ingredients for Food or material for Textiles but the main focus is the home learning project.

•The types of tasks we are giving the students are very open and independent. The main aim is for the student to be creative and use inspiration from their experiences to complete the task. Independence is the key and although they can use friends/family for support what they produce and hand in is up-to them. The tasks are all practical and students are given choices aimed at their skill in ICT, creative sketching, modelling, making etc.

•Home learning in Technology relates to the programme of assessment within each scheme of work as it recaps and reviews knowledge and skills touched upon in lesson time. It gives the students chance to focus on a particular interest they may have during the module in that specific specialism or it may give the chance for the student to learn something completely new to them on their own.

•The rewards for the home learning projects are tied into the current college’s reward policy (MLP) and Vivo’s will be rewarded for complete projects as well as effort put into work. The sanctions system for the task is as follows:

  1. If no project is handed in then the student receives an hour detention ( so it escalates straight to CTL detention due to the nature and length of the project)
  2. For every week that passes by the student will then receive a further 30 minutes detention and this will keep going until the project is handed in to that classroom teacher
  3. If after 4 weeks of detentions and still no project CCTL to be contacted and made aware.
  4. If a project is handed in and is clearly not the quality of a 10 week project it is at the teacher’s discretion to further sanction with the MLP detention system.

•Home learning will be monitored by the classroom teacher, deadlines will be given regularly. Tuesday afternoons from 2.30-3.30 will be KS3 support night. This is run on a rota basis with every member of the CA dedicated to supporting and monitoring the work of students. All students are aware of the rota as it is on display in the CA base window so all students can access this at any given time. Resources are shared with students and support given where needed but the ones is still on the students to be independent in the creation of the task.

•Feedback of the project will take the form of a “celebration lesson” at the end of the module, this is a chance for students to showcase their projects and all students to orally peer assess each other’s work. Students will present their project to the class and explain what they have done.

Key stage 4 (year 9, 10 and 11)

•Homelearning tasks are built into the SOW for each material area.

•In year 9 and 10 design and research tasks are set for each module to allow continued development and preparation for future parts of the projects.

•In Year 11 homelearning is not set in the first half of the year as students are focused on their controlled assessment tasks. During revision they are asked to use Firefly to look at material that will come up in their exams. They will also have exam questions/past papers to complete

•At least two homelearning tasks per module

•Tasks will include research, opportunities to use skills, design problems, presentations etc. In Year 9 the students are given a range of options to choose from, similar to the Homelearning that is done in KS3. All the homelearning tasks are linked back to the GCSE mark scheme and specifications.

•Students are rewarded with positive behaviour slips for Homelearning that is done to a high standard. Sanctions follow the school behaviour policy (detention/CTL detention/CCTLdetention)

•Homelearning tasks are all online on the new Firefly site with links and supporting materials.

•Students should receive written feedback on homelearning within a week of it being handed in. Opportunities for student reflection are built into lessons along with the opportunity to make the required improvements.

Key stage 5 (year 12 and 13)

  • In Year 12 and 13 homelearning is not set in the first half of the year as students are focused on their AS/A2 Projects. During revision they are asked to use Firefly to look at material that will come up in their exams. They will also have exam questions/past papers to complete
  • At least one homelearning tasks per revision module
  • Tasks include research opportunities, problem solving activities and exam questions designed to stretch the students understanding of the theoretical content of the AS/A2 Product Design Course
  • The Home Learning Tasks are directly linked to the assessment criteria of the WJEC AS/A2 awards and are marked accordingly with feedback allowing for further development.
  • Students are rewarded with positive behaviour slips for Homelearning that is done to a high standard. Sanctions follow the school behaviour policy (Cause For Concern/CTL intervention/CCTL intervention)
  • Homelearning tasks are all online on the new Firefly site with links and supporting materials.
  • Students should receive written feedback on homelearning within a week of it being handed in. Opportunities for student reflection are built into lessons along with the opportunity to make the required improvements.