Key Stage 3 Homework

Sparx Maths & Sparx Reader Homework Guide (Years 7–9)

This guide is for students and parents/carers to help you confidently complete Sparx Maths and Sparx Reader homework each week.

Sparx Maths and Sparx Reader should take you an hour each per week.

If you do 12 minutes per day of Maths and Reader Monday to Friday you will complete your required homework.

During Revision and Assessment weeks you do not need to complete your Maths and Reader. This is because you will be revising for your assessments.

1) Why Somercotes Academy uses Sparx (and why it works)

Sparx Maths

• Personalised practice: Sparx creates weekly homework that is tailored to each student’s current level, based on what has been taught and how the student is progressing.
• Built-in help: Questions include short support videos so students can re-learn or recap independently if they get stuck.
• Proven impact: Sparx states that 1 hour of personalised homework per week is associated with improving grades, and that it is proven by research from the University of Cambridge to significantly boost grades.

Sparx Reader

• Regular, independent reading: Sparx Reader is designed to help students practise reading regularly and build strong reading habits.
• Accessible and supportive: Students read books at an appropriate level and can use tools such as contextual definitions and accessibility features (e.g., dyslexia-friendly options).
• Checks for careful reading: Sparx Reader includes questions as students read to support focus and comprehension.

2) What homework is set?

• Years: Homework is set for Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9.
• Platforms: Students will receive homework on Sparx Maths and Sparx Reader.

Tip: Encourage students to start early in the week so there is time to ask for help if needed. (Sparx also recommends starting early and using support videos.)

3) How to log in (using your Academy username and password)

Step-by-step

• Go to the Sparx student login pages:
• Sparx Maths: https://welcome.sparxmaths.uk/
• Sparx Learning app (switch between products if enabled): https://app.sparx-learning.com/student
• Enter your Somercotes Academy username and password.
• If prompted, make sure you have selected Somercotes Academy.

Common login issues (quick fixes)

• Wrong school selected: If the device has been used by another student/sibling, you may need to re-select the correct school.
• Wrong username/password: Check spelling carefully (including hyphens in double-barrelled surnames).
• Too many attempts: Accounts can temporarily lock after multiple incorrect attempts.

✅ If students are having issues logging in, they need to speak to their Form Tutor.

4) Help videos and parent/student support links (official Sparx resources)

Sparx Maths – Parent & student support

• Sparx Maths: A parent’s guide (includes student videos & FAQs): https://sparxmaths.com/parents/
• Sparx Maths Help Centre (troubleshooting, logging in, homework guidance): https://support.sparxmaths.com/en/
• Login help article (username/password troubleshooting): https://support.sparxmaths.com/en/articles/342364-logging-in-with-a-sparx-maths-username-and-password

Sparx Reader – Parent & student support

• Sparx Reader: A parent’s guide (short videos answering common questions): https://sparxreader.com/parents/
• Sparx Reader Help Centre: https://support.sparxreader.com/en/
• Sparx Reader main site (overview and features): https://sparxreader.com/

Sparx official YouTube channel (additional videos)

• Sparx YouTube channel (Maths overview videos and more): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsq1a1cgFjL6FxNFHZ3nryA/videos

5) How to succeed each week (student checklist)

Sparx Maths – success checklist

• ✅ Do your bookwork (working out on paper) as you go.
• ✅ If stuck, watch the support video on the question and try again.
• ✅ Complete homework in short bursts across the week rather than the night before.

Sparx Reader – success checklist

• ✅ Read in a quiet, focused space.
• ✅ Use definitions and accessibility tools if needed.
• ✅ Answer questions carefully—these check you’ve understood what you read.

6) Getting help in school

Sparx Homework Club

• Every Tuesday at lunchtime
• Location: Room 30A

You can attend to:

• get support with homework tasks,
• resolve misunderstandings,
• build a weekly routine.

7) Important expectations and consequences

• Incomplete homework will result in a detention on Thursday lunchtime.
• If you experience login problems, dspeak to your Form Tutor as soon as possible (don’t wait until the deadline).

8) Parent/Carer tips (how you can help)

• Encourage your child to start early and plan short sessions across the week.
• When your child is stuck on Maths, prompt them to se the built-in support videos before asking for direct answers.
• For Reader, ask your child to tell you what they’ve read and what they think about it—this supports understanding and motivation.

Quick Links

• Sparx Maths login: https://welcome.sparxmaths.uk/
• Sparx Maths parent guide: https://sparxmaths.com/parents/
• Sparx Reader parent guide: https://sparxreader.com/parents/
• Sparx Reader main site: https://sparxreader.com/
• Sparx Maths Help Centre: https://support.sparxmaths.com/en/
• Sparx Reader Help Centre: https://support.sparxreader.com/en/