Examples from schools

Leaflets about homework and supporting learning

A short guide to helping with homework is a friendlier introduction than the whole school policy.

St Andrew's RC Secondary in Glasgow issues a homework checklist and an information leaflet for parents about helping children with homework.

 
PDF file: Helping with Homework Checklist - St Andrew's RC Secondary

PDF file: Information Leaflet for Parents About Homework - St Andrew's RC Secondary

Biggar High School in South Lanarkshire provides guidance to parents of senior pupils to help them support their children when studying for exams. The materials reflect what the students have been given in school to help them. In this way parents know what guidance their children have been given.

PDF file: Study Tips for Parents - Biggar High School

School sends 'blue letters'

Dunscore Primary School in Dumfries and Galloway gives all new families a blue folder when children start at the school. Throughout the session all curricular information leaflets and letters are sent out on blue paper. The aim is to make them instantly recognisable and draw attention to them so that parents read them and keep them in the folder for future reference.

Homework diaries and home-school notebooks

Senior pupils at St Andrew's Secondary in Glasgow have a learning log to help them remember what they have learned and highlight where they may want more support.

PDF file: Senior Pupils' Learning Log - St Andrew's RC Secondary

Tobermory High is an all-through primary and secondary school. They use a home-school notebook at all stages. Extracts from the notebook for P1 and P2 are given here. (Please note that this is an A5 booklet. As you look at each A4 landscape page this represents two pages of the notebook.)

PDF file: Tobermory High Homework Notebook

I think they are a great idea because it means I can see at a glance what Shona has been doing during the school week. It is also an easy way for me to get in touch with her teacher if I have any worries or concerns.Parent of pupil attending Tobermory High

Greenfaulds High School in Cumbernauld have developed a personalised logbook for all pupils in S5/S6 which goes home to parents every month with updated information on attendance and attainment. See page 9, Issue 5 of the Assessment is for Learning Newsletter.

I know all reports are pupil specific but with this I know they are really thinking about the child because I recognise my child in it.

It gets parents more involved. For my boy it is spot on. It has allowed us to encourage him more. Up until this year before the logbook I didn't have a clue what he was doing. I wasn't picking him up from school, I was only seeing him at night and the computers are on. I wasn't getting involved. But now I do, I sit down with him, go through the logbook and I am more involved. I am sitting down and I am getting interested in the things he is learning at school.

Parents of pupils at Greenfaulds High

After-school schemes

Hill's Trust Primary School in Central Govan, Glasgow, operates the SHIFT (School Home Initiative for Family Tuition) initiative which is designed to involve families whose children have a poor history of completing homework. Parents, children and teachers sign up to a short-term, intensive programme which takes place after school hours.

PDF file: SHIFT home-school agreement.

I think my child's confidence is growing and hope this will continue

Being able to stay in school and complete homework is a great idea.

Getting 'D' home knowing that the homework is already finished is a blessing.

It's great not having to deal with refusing to do homework because cartoons are on.

I would like to come in on the other two days to work with my child after school

Parents of pupils at Hill's Trust Primary School

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