MWA Independent Study (IS) Approach
Rationale: Independent study is a low cost but high impact intervention. When purposeful IS activities are linked to
learning in the classroom, and feedback from the teacher is included, students improve their progress by +5 months on
average. (Education Endowment Foundation, 2021)
Aims: Through Independent Study students will be able to:
• Consolidate and extend learning
• Prepare for new learning activities
• Develop research skills
• Take ownership and responsibility for their learning
• Enhance study skills
• Experience consistent, purposeful Independent Study that has clear instructions, success criteria and deadlines.
Independent Study procedures: IS will be set by individual teachers and should be an integral part of their medium term planning.
• Students can expect to be set:
| Year Group | Independent study set: |
| Year 7-9 | • Maths and English – approximately 1 hour per fortnight • Science, Geography, History, DT & Food, MFL, RPE, Art, Music, Performing Arts – approximately 30 minutes per fortnight or 1 project based activity per half term. • PSHE & PE – No independent study set. |
| Year 10-11 | • Maths and English – approximately 1 hour per week • Combined Science – approximately 1 hour per fortnight • GCSE option subjects – approximately 1 hour per fortnight or 1 project based activity per half term • Vocational option subjects – IS set where appropriate (NEA work for vocational subjects cannot be completed at home) • PSHE and PE – No independent study set. |
• All Independent Study tasks will be set on Class Charts ensuring that suitable time frames are given to complete
each task set.
• Feedback on the quality of Independent Study tasks will be offered by the teacher; achievement points will be
awarded for completing work to the required standard.
• Teachers use Class Charts to monitor the completion of Independent Study:
| IS completed to req. standard | Positive ‘success’ point awarded & recorded as ‘submitted’ on Class Charts |
| IS not completed | Recorded as ‘Not submitted’ on Class Charts. |
Responsibilities:
Subject teachers
• Prepare students to successfully complete IS for their subject prior to the deadline
• Monitor the completion and quality of IS as appropriate in subject lessons by the deadline.
• Make use of IS work as appropriate in lessons (e.g. using information on students’ flashcards as the basis for a Do Now quiz)
• Recognise completion of IS by awarding positive ‘success’ points on Class Charts
Heads of Department
• QA assures use of academy systems to ensure that teachers are following IS procedures
• Work with designated AAP to curate Knowledge Organisers and information for distribution to parents at the start of Term
1, 3 and 5.
• Ensure that a designated colleague is given responsibility for setting IS tasks for shared teaching groups. Ensure IS is
understood, monitored and valued within their team
Academy leaders (House Captains, PYLs, RSLs)
• Revisit importance of IS in assemblies
Learning mentors
• Support students to organise their IS tasks to meet deadlines
• Communicate with parents and support students in attending IS club (homework club)
Extended and senior leadership team
• QA the setting of IS in line management meetings and across the academy.
• Review and evaluate the academies policy for IS
• Designated AAP to work with middle leaders to curate IS information booklet for parents.
Parents/Carers
• Check what IS has been set on Class Charts
• Check that IS has been completed and support students where possible
• Where possible, create a space within the home for your child to complete IS
Students
• Meet IS deadlines, taking responsibility and pride in tasks set
• Attend any support sessions offered by teachers if IS deadlines are missed
