Homework at Cottenham Village College
Every student at Cottenham Village College follows a single homework system. It is simple to follow, the same for every child in a year group, and grounded in how memory actually works. This page sets out how it operates and the reasoning behind it.
The thinking behind it
The system rests on retrieval practice. Instead of re-reading what they have learned, students return to it and try to recall it unaided. The effort that requires is precisely what fixes knowledge in the long term. Short, regular sessions achieve this far more reliably than a single long task the night before, and they establish habits of study that will serve students well beyond their time at school.
Open, clear and consistent
Parents can see what is set and when as all homework is published a half-term in advance. The arrangement is identical for every student in a year group, whatever their class or teacher, so a child’s homework no longer depends on who happens to teach them. Students who wish to move ahead are welcome to do so.
What is set each evening
Each evening there are two tasks, each of thirty minutes at most. Some are online. In English and Maths these are fluency tasks on Sparx Reader and Sparx Maths; in Years 10 and 11 there are also tasks on Sparx Science, Educake and Seneca. The remainder use each the wonderful knowledge organiser for a single subject, following the method of Look, Cover, Write, Check: students study a section, cover it, write down what they can recall, and then check their answer against the page.
The weekly timetables
The timetable is sent to students and parents each half-term, so there are no surprises.
Year 7, 8 and 9
| Day | First task (30 minutes maximum) | Second task (30 minutes maximum) |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | Maths – Sparx Maths | Science – Knowledge Organiser: Look, Cover, Write, Check |
| Tue | English – Sparx Reader | Maths – Knowledge Organiser: Look, Cover, Write, Check |
| Wed | Maths – Sparx Maths | Spanish – Knowledge Organiser: Look, Cover, Write, Check |
| Thu | English – Sparx Reader | History / Geography – Knowledge Organiser: Look, Cover, Write, Check |
| Fri | Maths – Sparx Maths | English – Knowledge Organiser: Look, Cover, Write, Check |
Year 10 and 11
| Day | 30 Minutes Maximum | 30 Minutes Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | Maths – Sparx Maths | Science – Knowledge Organiser: Look, Cover, Write, Check |
| Tue | English – SENECA | History / Geography / RE – Knowledge Organiser: Look, Cover, Write, Check |
| Wed | Maths – Knowledge Organiser: Look, Cover, Write, Check | Spanish/French – Knowledge Organiser: Look, Cover, Write, Check |
| Thu | English – SENECA | Maths – Sparx Maths |
| Fri | Maths – Sparx Maths | English – Knowledge Organiser: Look, Cover, Write, Check |
Checking, and time
Students always have a week in which to complete any task. Each week, teachers check that the work has been done through a short, low-stakes quiz. Its purpose is to show students what has stayed with them and what needs another look, not to catch anyone out.
The timetable sets the minimum daily expectation for every student, and teachers in all subjects remain free to set additional homework on top of it.
The tasks on the timetable should take no more than an hour a night at Key Stage 3, and many students will finish sooner. That is deliberate. We want students to be able to keep up their clubs and interests, and to have proper time to rest outside school. At Key Stage 4, the grid reflects a floor amount rather than a ceiling, that is to say the minimum expectation of each student’s daily homework; other subjects may set revision-based or exam-practice tasks in addition to the grid.
Knowledge organisers
Students have been given their knowledge organisers. The lines to be learned in each half-term are published on this website in advance, so that you can see exactly what your child is working on.
Support after school
Two supervised spaces are open after school from Monday 5 October to support students with their homework. SB1, a computer room, provides a safe place to work online, and The Bridge is open to any student with SEN. Both are staffed and remain open each day until 16:15.
See homework information below for the current half-term
Year 7: Knowledge Organiser lines to learn
Use Look, Cover, Write, Check on the day shown. Students have the full week to complete each task.
| Day | Subject | w/c 2 Nov | w/c 9 Nov | w/c 16 Nov | w/c 23 Nov | w/c 30 Nov | w/c 7 Dec | w/c 14 Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Science | Page 45, lines 1–10 | Pages 27–28, lines 11–20 | Page 34, lines 11-21 | Page 41, lines 12-25 | Pages 45-46, lines 11-21 | Page 28, lines 21-28 | Page 35, lines 22-30 |
| Tue | Maths | Page 19, lines 1–5 | Page 19, lines 6–10 | Page 19, lines 11-14 | Page 19, lines 15 to 18 | Page 20, line 1-4 | Page 20, line 5-8 | Page 20, line 9-10. Page 21, lines 1-3 |
| Wed | Spanish | Page 155 all lines | Page 156 all lines | Page 157 all lines | Page 158 all lines | Page 159 all lines | Page 155 all lines | Page 160 all lines |
| Thur | History | Page 73, lines 1–5 | Pages 73, lines 1-10 | Page 73, lines 6-15 | Page 74, lines 1-5 | Page 74, lines 1-10 | Page 74, lines 11-20 | Page 75, lines 16-25 |
| Fri | English | Page 2, No. 1–17 | Page 3, No. 18–30 | Page 3, No. 31–38 | Page 2, No. 1–17 | Page 3, No. 18–30 | Page 3, No. 31–38 | N/A |
Year 8: Knowledge Organiser lines to learn
Use Look, Cover, Write, Check on the day shown. Students have the full week to complete each task.
| Day | Subject | w/c 2 Nov | w/c 9 Nov | w/c 16 Nov | w/c 23 Nov | w/c 30 Nov | w/c 7 Dec | w/c 14 Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Science | Page 51, lines 1-10 | Pages 27-28, lines 11-20 | Pages 36-37, lines 11-20 | Pages 46-47, lines 11-20 | Pages 51-52, lines 11-20 | p28-29 lines 21-30 | p37 lines 21-30 |
| Tue | Maths | Page 19, line 1-6 | Page 19, line 7-12 | Page 20, line 1-4 | Page 20, line 5-8 | Page 20, line 9. Page 21, lines 1-4 | Page 21, line 1-4 | |
| Wed | Spanish | Set by Mr Hewitt from Sentance Builders. | ||||||
| Thur | History | Page 76, lines 1-10 | Page 76, lines 6-15 | Page 77, lines 11-20 | Page 78, lines 1-10 | Page 78, lines 6-15 | Page 79, lines 11-20 | Page 79, lines 16-25 |
| Fri | English | Page 2, No. 1–16 | Pages 3-4, No. 17–37 | Page 4, lines 38–49 | Page 2, lines 1–16 | Pages 3-4, lines 17–37 | Page 4, lines 38–49 | N/A |
Year 9: Knowledge Organiser lines to learn
Use Look, Cover, Write, Check on the day shown. Students have the full week to complete each task.
| Day | Subject | w/c 2 Nov | w/c 9 Nov | w/c 16 Nov | w/c 23 Nov | w/c 30 Nov | w/c 7 Dec | w/c 14 Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Science | Page 24, lines 9-17 | Page 33, lines 9-16 | Pages 40-41, lines 11-20 | Page 25, lines 18-27 | Page 34, lines 17-22 | Pages 41-42 lines, 21-30 | Page 26, lines 28-35 |
| Tue | Maths | Page 13, line 1-7 | Page 13, lines 8-16 | Page 14, lines 1-6 | Page 14, lines 7-11 | Page 14, lines 12-15 | Page 15, lines 1-5 | Page 15, lines 6-8 |
| Wed | Spanish | Set by Mr Hewitt from Sentance Builders. | ||||||
| Thur | Geography | Page 85, lines 31-40 | Page 85, lines 41-50 | Page 86, lines 51-60 | Page 86, lines 61-70 | Page 87, lines 71-80 | Page 88, lines 81-90 | Page 88, lines 91-95 |
| Fri | English | Pages 5-6, No. 1–26 | Page 7, No. 27–50 | Pages 2-3, No. 1–17 | Pages 5-6, No. 1–26 | Page 7, No. 27–50 | Pages 2-3, No. 1–17 | N/A |
Year 10: Knowledge Organiser lines to learn
Use Look, Cover, Write, Check on the day shown. Students have the full week to complete each task.
| Day | Subject | w/c 2 Nov | w/c 9 Nov | w/c 16 Nov | w/c 23 Nov | w/c 30 Nov | w/c 7 Dec | w/c 14 Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Science | Page 40, lines 21-32 | Pages 45-46, lines 22-35 | Pages 51-53, lines 1-13 | Pages 55-56, lines 1-22 | Pages 47-48, lines 36-49 | Page 54, lines 14-26 | Page 57-58, lines 23-35 |
| Tue | History | Page 101, lines 31-40 | Page 102, lines 1-10 | Page 103, lines 11-20 | Page 103, lines 21-30 | Page 104, lines 31-40 | Page 105, lines 1-10 | Page 105, lines 11-20 |
| Tue | RE | None (no KO for topic) | Page 191, lines 1-12 | Page 191, lines 13-17 | Page 191, lines 18-25 | Page 192, lines 26-37 | Page 193, lines 38-47 | Page 193, lines 39-51 |
| Wed | Maths: Higher | Page 26, line 1-6 | Page 26, line 7-10 | Page 27, line 1 to 6 | Page 27, line 7 to 11 | Page 28, line 1 to 6 | Page 28, line 7 to 11 | Page 28, line 12 to 14 |
| Wed | Maths: Foundation | Page 26, line 1-6 | Page 26, line 7-10 | Page 28, line 1 to 6 | Page 2, lines 7-12 | Page 28, line 13-14 | Page 28, lines 7-12 | |
| Wed | Spanish | Page 238 | Page 239 | Page 240 | Page 235 | Page 241 | Page 236 | Page 242 |
| Thur: No knowledge organiser task. | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fri | English | Pages 2-3, No. 1–23 | Pages 3–5, lines 24–37 | Pages 5–6, lines 38–51 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Year 11: Knowledge Organiser lines to learn
Use Look, Cover, Write, Check on the day shown. Students have the full week to complete each task.
| Day | Subject | w/c 2 Nov | w/c 9 Nov | w/c 16 Nov | w/c 23 Nov | w/c 30 Nov | w/c 7 Dec | w/c 14 Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Science | MOCK EXAMS | MOCK EXAMS | MOCK EXAMS | Page 46, lines 17-25 | Pages 49-50, lines 1-15 | Pages 47-48, lines 26-33 | Page 51, lines 16-25 |
| Tue | History | MOCK EXAMS | MOCK EXAMS | MOCK EXAMS | Page 59, lines 21-30 | Page 59, lines 31-40 | Page 61, lines 1-10 | Page 62, lines 11-20 |
| Tue | RE | MOCK EXAMS | MOCK EXAMS | MOCK EXAMS | Page 167, lines 10-18 | Page 168, lines 19-28 | Page 168, lines 29-37 | Page 169, lines 43-47 |
| Wed | Maths: Higher | MOCK EXAMS | MOCK EXAMS | MOCK EXAMS | Page 24, lines 5-9 | Page 27, lines 1-8 | Page 27, lines 9-14 | Page 28, lines 15-17 |
| Wed | Maths: Foundation | MOCK EXAMS | MOCK EXAMS | MOCK EXAMS | Page 24, lines 5-9 | Page 27, lines 1-8 | Page 27, lines 9-14 | Page 28, lines 15-17 |
| Wed | French | MOCK EXAMS | MOCK EXAMS | MOCK EXAMS | Page 177 | Page 178 | Page 179 | Page 180 |
| Thur: No knowledge organiser task. | – | – | – | – | ||||
| Fri | English | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Pages 5–7, lines 51–79 | Pages 7–9, lines 79–101 | Pages 9-11, lines 1–31 |