ILTs are changing.

ILT refers to any work or activity which students are asked to do outside lesson time, be it at home or in school.

The purpose of ILTs:

• To encourage students to develop the confidence and self-discipline to work on their own, an essential skill for adult life.

• To help students develop the independent learning skills of research, planning and self-review.

• To consolidate and reinforce curriculum specific skills and understanding.

• To extend school learning, for example through additional reading.

• To enable students to devote time to particular demands such as coursework or project work.

• To support the home/school relationship.

ILTs can take many formats including writing assignments, learning assignments, preparing a presentation, reading in preparation for a lesson, finding out information/researching a project, working as part of a group on a joint project, completing online quizzes and tasks on other learning websites, or attending an XL session.

All ILTs should be submitted in the subject Google Classroom. Where this isn't physically possible students can submit a photo or video of their ILT.

At secondary level, it is recommended that the time spent on ILTs should fall within the following ranges:

• Years 7 and 8: 45 to 90 minutes per day

• Year 9: 1 to 2 hours per day

• Years 10 and 11: 1.5 to 2.5 hours per day

Google Classroom will help you see your deadlines in different ways - see which works best for you.

1. Look at the To do page in Google Classroom. You might need to click the menu button ≡ to see this. This will show your ILTs as a list.

2. Look at the calendar page in Google Classroom. You might need to click the menu button ≡ to see this. This will show your ILTs in a calendar view.

3. Have a look at this table which shows the ILTs for each year group at a glance.

These are set in Google Classroom.

You can also see our ILTs at a glance here (but you must complete them in Google Classroom).

There's a great video tour of Google Classroom, as well as some help for common issues on the help page.

In each of your Classrooms, look in the 'classwork' section and find the 'ILTs' topic.

ILTs help you develop independent study skills.

Teachers will check your work and give you Class Charts points. These add up to rewards in our Class Charts shop and also helps your academy Family in the Family competition.

At the end of each term, your Head of Family will check that you have completed ILTs. Only students who complete their ILTs will be eligible for big rewards.

In previous years, these have included trips to the cinema, Chester Zoo, Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Alton Towers!

Each ILT has different levels.

They are set by the teachers, and just like in lessons, we set CORE, EXTENSION and KILLER tasks.

More able and talented students are expected to complete the KILLER tasks.

Try the highest level you can - you will get extra rewards for trying to challenge yourself.

Ask your teacher which level they want you to try.

Parents and carers don't have a login to our Google Classroom, but we will sign you up to receive Guardian Email Summaries. Here is an example.

You can also see our ILTs at a glance here.

If you don't receive the email asking you to opt in, please let us know and we will add you.

Parents/carers should support students with their ILTs , but students should become more responsible and independent as they get used to doing their ILTs.

• Parents/carers should try and provide a reasonable place where students can work or encourage them to make use of the school’s facilities, including the Library.

• Parents/carers should encourage students to meet ILT deadlines.

• Parents/carers should make it clear to students that they value ILTs and support the school in explaining how it can help them to progress.

• Parents/carers should encourage students and praise them when ILTs are completed.

• Literacy mats for different subjects

• Readings lists for all year groups

• Exam preparation materials for different subjects