Inclusion sits at the heart of the practice of all within the school and there is strong evidence that the commitment to adapting the curriculum to the individual needs of students reflects the highest of ambitions for their most vulnerable students
Russell Bennett, Director of Education - GLF Trust

Independent Practice

Article 28. Every child has the right to an education. 

At Trafalgar School, independent practice is a valued part of our curriculum offer and is used to ensure that knowledge gained in lessons is remembered and effectively recalled in order to be successful in students future learning. It is therefore an integral part of the curriculum to explicitly promote our ‘stickability’ teaching and learning principle.  Independent Practice teaches responsibility and helps students develop good study habits. 
  • Independent practice tasks should always be planned in advance by curriculum teams to reinforce the key knowledge required in the ongoing scheme of learning.
  • Students need to be given appropriate time to complete work set; this must be longer than 24 hours.  
  • Tasks should always be differentiated to ensure all students are challenged and supported appropriately. 
  • Independent practice must be recorded via Class Charts to promote good organisational skills and to allow parents to support and engage in their child’s home learning. 
  • Students must receive feedback on their home learning.
  • Successful completion of and effort made towards independent practice will be celebrated across curriculum areas to support and motivate students with their learning.
  • If independent practice is not completed, students will be given the opportunity to make this right, and departments will provide study support sessions to allow all students to complete independent practice successfully. This will be communicated with parents via Class Charts.    
  • All curriculum leaders should monitor the quality, completion and impact of tasks as part of their monitoring process.
  • Compulsory independent practice will not be set for completion during school holidays (other than KS4 revision).
Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9.)
Weekly 60-minute independent practice tasks will be set for core subjects: English, Maths & Science.
Fortnightly 30- minute independent practice tasks will be set in MFL, History and Geography.
Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11.)
Weekly 60-minute Independent Practice tasks will be set for core subjects: English, Maths & Science.
Other options subjects will set fortnightly 60-minute independent practice tasks.