Dear Parents/Carers,
We are delighted to let you know that students are completing their Maths homework with 'Sparx Maths'. Sparx is an exciting online platform that offers every student a personalised Maths homework.
We know that you want to support your child’s Maths progress, so we’ve put together this letter to explain how Sparx works and why it is important to make sure that Maths homework is 100% completed.
How does Sparx homework work?
Sparx personalises each child’s homework, creating a weekly set of questions tailored to their level of understanding and learning pace. The questions are designed to be achievable, whilst offering the stretch that learners need to make progress.
Each week, topics are set by your child’s Maths teacher and will make up the majority of the homework questions. Questions from previous topics will also be included in the homework so that students can keep practising the skills they have learned.
Students will be logging onto the Sparx platform in school this week, but details of how to do this can also be found below:
· Log in
· Student log in
· Select Outwood Academy Kirkby as the school
· Continue
· New Sparx User
· Enter student forename, surname and date of birth
· Submit
There is support available after school on a Thursday for all students.
Homework hand in times (8am)
Year 7 | Friday
Year 8 | Wednesday
Year 9 | Tuesday
Year 10 | Friday
Year 11 | Tuesday
How can I help my child with their homework?
We appreciate that you will want to support your child with their home learning but please try not to help them with a question until they’ve had a go first! It is really important that they complete their homework independently, and that questions are marked as correct. They can watch the support video if they need to. This way, Sparx can make sure your child continues to see homework that’s at the right level for them.
Why does my child need to achieve 100% compulsory homework completion?
Sparx Homework is deliberately designed to help students really get to grips with and understand the concepts and skills they are learning by ensuring they cover the essential building blocks needed to make progress in Maths. Sparx’ research (
sparx.co.uk/evidence) has shown that an average of 60 minutes a week of this type of personalised Maths home learning leads to clear progress. It is therefore advised that students do their homework as early as possible, so they have the time to have a go themselves and seek help from their teacher if needed. Homework is not marked as complete until all of the compulsory questions have been answered correctly, so starting early is key to finishing before hand-in time.
You can keep track of your child’s homework completion in the weekly email you will receive from Sparx.
We hope you agree that Sparx will play an exciting and important role in helping your child’s understanding, success and confidence in Maths to grow.
If you have any questions, please contact me via the school office.
Yours sincerely
Miss Atkins
Director of Maths