A few days after a lesson, if that lesson's homework has not been uploaded and marked, we send one reminder email. It goes to the address on the student's account and is addressed to the parent on file by first name, with the student's name in the subject line.
What it says
The email names the course and the session, notes that the class was a few days ago, and has a button that signs the student in and opens the Homework page on that term, so the work can be handed in without hunting for a password. The button link is personal to the student, expires after a while, and stops working once the account password is changed; if it has expired, signing in normally and opening the Homework page gets to the same place. It is a nudge, not a penalty: nothing is closed off and the homework is still accepted afterwards.
What clears it
The reminder clears once the pages are uploaded and marked. Testy marks the upload within a couple of minutes, so in practice an upload clears it; the XP still waits for the student to work through the feedback. Where Testy cannot mark, a student who has uploaded but not self marked still gets the reminder, because the marking is the part that does the learning.
How often it comes
Once for each lesson. It is never repeated for that session, however long the work stays outstanding, so a term's worth of missed homework cannot flood an inbox. Each new lesson is considered separately.
If the timing looks wrong
- If the work was finished just before the email, ignore it. The check runs ahead of sending and can be a few minutes behind.
- The address used is the one on the student's account. To change where it lands, update the email on the account, or ask the team.
- The Homework page always shows the real state, so check there before worrying about an email.
Lessons that set no homework never generate a reminder, and neither do 1-on-1 tutoring sessions or trial classes.
Two weeks in a row: the text message
If homework is missed for two lessons running, the parent on file also gets a short text message from Test Academy, and the class teacher is told. Homework counts as missed for a lesson when it has not been uploaded and self marked before the next lesson, so a late hand-in still counts as missed for that week.
The text is sent once per streak. A third or fourth missed week in a row does not send another one; it is only sent again after a week is completed on time and then two more are missed. Lessons with no homework set are skipped and neither add to nor break a streak. Holiday intensives, workshops and trial classes never send it.
It is a warning, not a penalty: nothing is closed off and the homework is still accepted. If something is getting in the way, reply to the text or contact the team and we will help.