Homework effectiveness research.
As a regular reader, you’ll know we believe most of the answers to schools’ challenges are inside schools - or at least the heads of those who work there - already.
The first two highlights this week are all about what you’re doing in your schools to tackle tricky issues at home.
We - schools - Are In Beta - always learning (especially when we help each other out).
This week.
🔬📚 Homework: research schools are doing to improve it.
💬💸 Helping students and families with the cost of living crisis (discussion group).
💼 🔎Jobs with We Are In Beta community members.
🔬🏡 Homework: research schools are doing to improve it.
Homework’s hard to get right: setting, quality, independence, completion, marking, following up, tracking, parental buy in. There’s a lot that can go wrong.
That’s why, last term, I invited you to take part in the research VP, David Greenshields, was doing to inform their homework strategy.
I shared a survey that asked 6 questions. The 2nd of which we cover here:
What research have you done or do you plan to do to inform your approach to homework?
The school leaders who took part, shared 8 articles, papers and blogs they’ve read to inform their strategies:
"EEF teaching and learning toolkit: Homework" by the EEF.
"Homework: what does the evidence say?" by Huntingdon Research School.
"Fixing the homework problem" by guest author via Ruth Ashbee.
"Progress in International Reading Literacy Study" by International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement.
"The Case For and Against Homework" by Marzano and Pickering.
"Great teaching techniques: Homework" by Tom Sherrington and Sara Stafford.
"Key Stage 3: the wasted years" by Ofsted.
"Effective homework at Key Stage 3" by Sec Ed.
If you want to read the these articles, I’ve gathered all the links in one place alongside the seven recommended books, pooled strategies and resources 👇
If you took part in the survey - massive thanks 🙏 - you've been emailed with everything you need to get unlimited access.
💬💸 Helping students and families with the cost of living crisis.
Schools are receiving more requests than ever to help, and we know things are only going to get worse.
Join DHT, Ben Jane, to discuss:
Strategies and ideas on how leaders are supporting their communities.
Information on what support is already available for those that need it.
How we can break down the barriers between school and home to ensure parents/carers will reach out to us when they need our support.
ICYMI: We’ve gathered strategies and resources - like parent comms and a list of uniform providers - in one place here.
If you want to access them, submit yours here.
Again, massive thanks if you took part already 🙏
💼 Jobs with We Are In Beta community members.
Want the 14.5k+ people reading this newsletter to see your roles?
Senior leadership.
Principal - Worle Community School (Weston-super-Mare). Message HR School Partner, Alex Tedford.
Assistant Headteacher (Inclusion & Co-Curricular) - Maternity Cover. Harrow High School (London). Message Deputy Headteacher, Kevin Patel.
Middle leadership.
Head of Religious Education - St Mark’ Academy (Mitcham). Message Academy Business Director, Christopher Currie or School Improvement Lead, Carleen Masson.
Head of Business /Computer Studies - Etone College (Nuneaton). Message Head of Science, Derek Clinton.
KS3 Maths Coordinator - Harrow High School (London). Harrow High School (London). Message Deputy Headteacher, Kevin Patel.
Head of English Faculty - St Anne's Academy (Manchester). Message Head of School Improvement, Juliette Biddle-Mogg.
Director of Science - Blue Coat School (Oldham). Message Head of School Improvement, Juliette Biddle-Mogg.
Science (KS3 Lead) - Etone College (Nuneaton). Message Head of Science, Derek Clinton.
2nd in Science - Havelock Academy (North East Lincs). Message Head of Science, Louise Cass.
2nd in Science - Message Academy Business Director, Christopher Currie or School Improvement Lead, Carleen Masson.
Assistant Head of Year - The Oldham Academy North (Oldham). Message Deputy Headteacher, Jess Giraud.
Teaching.
D&T - Ashton Park Park (Bristol). Message Headteacher, Richard Uffendell.
PE (female) - St Mark’ Academy (Mitcham). Message Academy Business Director, Christopher Currie.
English and Media (2 separate roles) - - Etone College (Nuneaton). Message Head of Science, Derek Clinton.
Art and Photography (full or part time) and Food and Design Technology - The Misbourne. Message Curriculum Leader, Kerry Cato.
D&T - Sewell Park Academy (Norwich). Message Executive Director of Education, Clare Fletcher.
English, Drama, Geography, Science and Maths - Worle Community School (Weston-super-Mare). Message HR School Partner, Alex Tedford.
English and Social Sciences (Psychology maternity cover) - Manor School, Northants. Message Deputy Headteacher, Chris Bateman.
Maths, Business and ICT (3 separate roles) - The Oldham Academy North (Oldham). Message Deputy Headteacher, Jess Giraud.
English - Meden School (Mansfield). Message Headteacher, Jim Smith.
Operations.
Childcare officers, Behaviour and Welfare Lead - Broad Horizons Education Trust. Message Executive Director of Education, Clare Fletcher.
Interested in these roles?
Send the people who posted them a message to find out more. But first…
On a personal note.
What are your most vivid memories from when you were young?
Mine are of writing thank you letters to family members who gave me Christmas and birthday presents.
I would do anything I could to avoid it. Writing them always seemed like it would take forever. All I wanted to do was play with my new stuff.
My parents’ thoughts? Not good enough.
To help, they used to draw pencil lines on blank cards (to keep me writing in a straight line) and gave me tracing paper with a script on it (to give me the right words to say).
As much as I didn’t want to, the response I got back taught the importance of saying thank you. I even began to enjoy writing them.
It’s been important to me ever since.
Why am I telling you this?
The We Are In Beta community would not exist without you showing up and helping each other out - so thank you.
The strongest relationships we’ve seen develop inside the community are between those who give first and say thank you. Those two simple actions drive a seemingly endless cycle of support.
Think about one person you want to thank back in school tomorrow - and say those two magic words. They cost nothing and they mean the world.
Sent this by a friend?
Thanks for reading.
@NiallAlcock and the We Are In Beta team.
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