Customer Story: Pendle Vale High School
Making homework central to independent learning with Access GCSEPod
Like most high schools, Pendle Vale serves a diverse cohort of students, with a commitment to academic excellence. For Matthew Hardwick, Senior Assistant Headteacher, a challenge has been to embed effective homework and revision practices that support both teaching and independent learning.
Access GCSEPod has played a key role Pendle Vale’s learning strategy, improving how the school approaches homework and revision. By integrating the platform into everyday learning, students take ownership of their education, build knowledge, and improve their chances of academic success.
Access GCSEPod
Maintained school
Challenge
- Encouraging independent learning through meaningful and consistent homework tasks.
- Supporting students who miss school or need extra help to fill knowledge gaps.
- Ensuring equitable access to resources across all abilities and subjects.
Approach
- Embedding GCSEPod into lessons and homework, with weekly targets for student engagement.
- Using pods to introduce and consolidate topics, reinforce learning, and track progress.
- Leveraging GCSEPod’s reporting tools for data-driven interventions and monitoring.
Results
- Improved Knowledge Retention: Revisiting topics regularly helps students keep learning fresh.
- Increased Accountability: Weekly pod targets and tracking ensure consistent usage.
- Targeted Interventions: Data insights enable personalized support where it’s needed most.
Transforming homework with Access GCSEPod
At Pendle Vale, GCSEPod plays a key role in making homework impactful and manageable, particularly at Key stage 4. Teachers assign weekly tasks that require students to watch specific pods, complete "Check & Challenge" quizzes, and apply their learning through tasks like essay writing.
“History is an example of good practice. When we’re learning a new topic in class, we set homework on the previous topic. This ensures students don’t forget what they’ve already learned and can continually build on their knowledge.”
For instance, Year 10 students studying Anglo-Saxon and Norman England have homework tasks focused on their previous unit, Medicine Through Time, for example.
Tasks include:
- Pod Assignments: Watching specific pods and extracting key facts.
- Quizzes: Completing "Check & Challenge" activities to test understanding.
- Application: Using learned knowledge to answer essay questions.
This structured approach ensures students consolidate their knowledge while applying it in meaningful ways.
Embedding Access GCSEPod into everyday learning
Access GCSEPod is not just for homework - it’s also used in lessons. Teachers use pods to introduce topics, bridge knowledge gaps, and check understanding. “It’s particularly helpful with clear summaries of complex topics making a huge difference,” Matthew notes.
The platform is widely used across core subjects such as English, Maths, Science and History, but its appeal extends further. Students are often the driving force behind its adoption in additional subjects, reflecting the platform’s accessibility and value.
Independent learning and tailored strategies
Pendle Vale supports independent learning, with GCSEPod helping students take charge of their education.
Key strategies include:
- Year 9 Introduction: Students are introduced to GCSEPod after Easter, once they’ve chosen their options, so they’re ready to use it in Year 10.
- Specialist Groups: Some students are given dedicated time on computers to use GCSEPod, ensuring they remain engaged and their subject knowledge is good.
- Year 11 Revision Groups: Scheduled computer sessions provide focused revision opportunities, especially important as mobiles are not allowed in school.
“GCSEPod benefits all abilities,” says Matthew. “It’s particularly valuable for students who join mid-year or miss lessons, helping them catch up effectively.”
Data-driven success and Pod Games
Pendle Vale uses GCSEPod’s reporting tools to track engagement, identify trends, and intervene when students fall behind. Teachers and pastoral teams regularly review data to monitor homework completion and ensure students meet their weekly pod targets.
The school also participates in GCSEPod’s Pod Games, a National competition that motivates students and encourages increased usage. Currently ranked #2, Pendle Vale aims to take the top spot.
"We would like to win [The Pod Games], but we’re doing it in a way that aligns with our teaching strategy - focusing on impact rather than just numbers."
Why Pendle Vale champions Access GCSEPod
Matthew and his team are strong advocates for GCSEPod, citing its many benefits:
- Independent homework: Weekly tasks encourage consistent learning.
- Filling knowledge gaps: Tools like "Check & Challenge" ensure no student is left behind.
- Efficient revision: Pods help students revisit and retain key concepts.
- Equitable support: Tailored strategies and tracking benefit all abilities.
It’s obvious GCSEPod has an impact on results, which is why we’ve made it central to our teaching and learning strategy. We’ve been with GCSEPod since 2008, and over all these years, we’ve never questioned its value.
Conclusion: Give your students a reason to smile with Access GCSEPod
Pendle Vale High School’s success with GCSEPod highlights the platform’s ability to enhance homework, improve knowledge retention, and support independent learning. By embedding GCSEPod into its teaching strategy, the school has not only boosted student engagement but also ensured consistent academic progress across all ability levels.
With features like tailored homework tasks, insightful reporting tools, and engaging activities like Pod Games, GCSEPod is a valuable resource for schools looking to make a tangible impact on student outcomes.