Homework

Homework at Harwich and Dovercourt High School

At Harwich and Dovercourt High School, we are committed to helping every student achieve their full potential. Homework plays a vital role in this journey — supporting classroom learning, building independence, and strengthening long-term understanding. Tasks are designed with purpose, often incorporating retrieval practice to help embed knowledge in students’ long-term memory and reinforce key skills.

Where to Find Homework: Satchel:One

All homework is set and tracked through Satchel:One, our dedicated online platform. This can be accessed via both app and website. Satchel:One provides:

  • A clear timeline of homework tasks
  • Instructions and estimated completion times
  • Real-time updates on submission status

Both students and parents have individual logins. In addition to homework tracking, the platform also provides information on attendance, punctuality, behaviour, and termly academic reports.

If you need help accessing Satchel:One, please contact the school at 01255 245460 or email admin@hdhs.school. We’re happy to help.

A Variety of Homework Tasks

Homework is carefully tailored to meet the aims of each subject. A typical week for a Year 7 student may include:

  • Maths: 30 minutes of personalised tasks on Sparx Maths
  • Science: Online tasks on Sparx Science
  • English: Weekly reading on Sparx Reader, earning points through comprehension questions; half-termly extended writing projects
  • German: Vocabulary and grammar practice on Language Gym and Quizlet
  • PE and Dance: Two tasks per term including subject-specific questions and a self-assessment
  • History & Geography: Spelling and vocabulary tasks, often using a “look, cover, write, check” approach
  • Art: Knowledge checks, occasional artist research, and optional practical extensions
  • Drama & Music: Vocabulary quizzes, listening tasks, and subject-specific reading

This wide variety ensures that homework is engaging, curriculum-aligned, and suited to different learning styles.

Homework Club

We run a Homework Club in Room A11, Monday to Thursday from 3:00 to 4:00pm. Students are welcome to attend for as long as they need. Chromebooks are available, and the club is supported by our associate teacher team, who are familiar with the homework expectations across all subjects.

This provides a quiet, well-equipped environment for students to complete work and seek support if needed.

Inclusion and Personalised Support

Homework is set for all students and is adapted where appropriate to meet individual needs. Many of our online platforms, such as Sparx and Language Gym, automatically personalise tasks while still aligning with the curriculum.

Parents are encouraged to contact our SEND team if further adaptations are required to ensure their child is supported effectively.

Tracking Progress and Feedback for Parents

Strong homework routines help students build valuable skills such as independence, time management, and personal responsibility. To support this, we work in close partnership with parents to ensure every child gets the most from their homework experience.

You can monitor your child’s homework progress through the Gradebook feature on Satchel:One. This provides a live view of which tasks have been completed, helping you to celebrate effort and support consistency.

Each academic report also includes a Homework Attitude to Learning (ATL) score for every subject:

4 – Exemplary

3 – Good

2 – Requires Improvement

1 – Cause for Concern

These scores highlight your child’s engagement with homework across the curriculum and help guide supportive conversations at home.

Homework is most effective when school and families work together. Your encouragement at home helps reinforce the high expectations we set in school. Together, we can ensure all students build confidence, develop excellent study habits, and achieve success.