Academic Update – Curriculum – 14th September 2018

The Importance of Independent Learning (IL): Independent learning refers to tasks given to students by their teachers to be completed outside of usual lessons. Common activities may be reading or preparing for work to be done in class, or practicing and completing tasks or activities already taught or started in lessons. It may also include more extended activities to develop inquiry skills or more directed and focused work such as revision for exams. The impact of independent learning is consistently positive (leading to on average five months' additional progress over just one year in some cases). However, beneath this average there is a wide variation in potential impact, suggesting that how independent learning is completed is very important. In addition…

The Importance of Independent Learning (IL):

Independent learning refers to tasks given to students by their teachers to be completed outside of usual lessons. Common activities may be reading or preparing for work to be done in class, or practicing and completing tasks or activities already taught or started in lessons. It may also include more extended activities to develop inquiry skills or more directed and focused work such as revision for exams. The impact of independent learning is consistently positive (leading to on average five months’ additional progress over just one year in some cases). However, beneath this average there is a wide variation in potential impact, suggesting that how independent learning is completed is very important.

In addition to the correlation between completing independent learning and improved achievement, independent learning acts as a bridge between school and home, ‬and the ability to engage parents in school life has a positive impact on learning. Independent learning can even help to improve relationships between parents, ‬bringing them‭ ‬closer together to enjoy learning and exchange ideas, ‬cementing the idea that independent learning has greater repercussions than just raising academic achievements within school and hence its importance.

You can support your child with their IL by logging into smartparent, which shows all IL activities from smarthomework. You can see all IL activities as well as your child’s timetable and achievement points.

The address for that is https://parents.realsmart.co.uk/smartparent/login

As an Academy we have high expectations on IL. Your child should be getting at least 30 minutes of IL in KS3, 60 minutes in KS4 and 5 hours in KS5, per subject. Don’t forget we also have SAM Learning and GCSEPOD that can be used at home when no IL has been set. These websites are full of resources and will help students make progress in all subjects!

Mr Ainsworth
Acting Vice Principal – Curriculum