Francis Combe Academy Assignments/Independent Study
Homework, or assignments as they are called at the Academy, are an essential part of the learning process and are set in most subjects. All Schools of Learning prepare assignment tasks, carefully ensuring that the tasks set enhance and build on the learning students’ experience in class. Tasks set include research, practicing skills, applying learning, revising and recapping key terms and concepts.
Some Schools of Learning set project type assignments. The objective of all assignments is to prepare students to be more independent in their studies and they are also excellent opportunities for students to become good time managers as well as building their knowledge and understanding.
All students are given an assignment timetable and an assignment handbook and are expected to record their tasks in their student planners. A copy of the assignment timetable is sent out to parents and carers at the start of the academic year.
The following table is a summary of the subjects that set assignments and approximate assignment time allocations for each Key Stage.
| Subject | Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 | Year 10/11 | Year 12/13 |
| English | Up to 60 minutes per week | Up to 90 minutes per week | Up to 90 minutes per week | 90 minutes per cycle | |
| Maths | Up to 60 minutes per week | Up to 90 minutes per week | Up to 90 minutes per week | 90 minutes per cycle | |
| Science | Up to 60 minutes per week | Up to 90 minutes per week | Up to 90 minutes per week | 90 minutes per cycle | |
| ICT (as part of their skills lesson) |
Up to 60 minutes per cycle | Up to 90 minutes per cycle | Up to 90 minutes per cycle | ||
| Humanities (History, Geography and RE) Yr 7 Only |
Up to 120 minutes per cycle | ||||
| Geography | Up to 60 minutes per cycle | Up to 60 minutes per cycle | |||
| History | Up to 60 minutes per cycle | Up to 60 minutes per cycle | |||
| RE | Up to 60 minutes per cycle | Up to 60 minutes per cycle | 60 minutes cycle | ||
| Art | 30 -60 minutes per week | ||||
| French | Up to 60 minutes per cycle | 60 minutes per cycle | |||
| Technology | 30 – 60 minutes per cycle | Up to 60 minutes per cycle | Up to 60 minutes per cycle | ||
| Options | Up to 90 minutes
per week per option |
5 hours guided independent study per week per subject |
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| Average amount of assignments per night | Up to 75 minutes per night | Up to 90 minutes per night | Up to 90 minutes per night | Up to 120 minutes per night | |
| Average amount of assignments per cycle | Up to 12 hours per cycle |
Up to 15 hours per cycle |
Up to 15 hours per cycle |
Up to 20 hours per cycle |
