HOMEWORK POLICY AND GUIDELINES

ST PAUL'S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL GRACEMERE

Homework Policy

Approved: 16 October 2024 | For Review 2028

Policy Statement

St Paul's Catholic Primary School's community recognises that homework needs to be purposeful out of class learning that seeks to enhance the extent to which each child benefits from the school's curriculum.

At St Paul's a variety of purposeful, relevant and well-structured homework tasks are selected to promote the achievement of the desired learning outcomes. We believe parental involvement is necessary to the success of homework and thus communication between school and home is essential for its success.

Description

Homework aims to positively contribute to each child's holistic personal development. It should help students develop good study habits and emphasise to students that learning continues to take place outside the school environment. There is overwhelming evidence that parent engagement has a positive effect on student

achievement and homework can provide a meaningful link between home and school. It is understood that homework at St Paul's takes into consideration a balance of family life and extra-curricular activities whilst being an expansion of school-based learning. A growth mindset is encouraged when attempting homework tasks, emphasising doing your best rather that getting everything correct.

Implementation Issues

The academic component of homework is to consolidate concepts previously covered in class or, in upper year levels, to research and prepare for, forthcoming topics. It should not be used to teach new material. The students should be able to complete the activity independently or with minimal assistance.
Homework is to be assigned according to the needs and abilities of various year levels, and in some cases the individual student. Parents and teachers are encouraged to work together to adjust, and in some unique cases exempt, homework to meet individual needs as appropriate.
If parents have questions or concerns about homework that has been set, they are encouraged to contact the classroom teacher to discuss.
An inherent objective of homework is to assist in the holistic growth of students in developing productive skills associated with lifelong habits of learning.
Use of technology or educational games are encouraged to enhance the homework experience.
Reading for a variety of purposes, including being read to, is an essential part of learning and will be a regular part of the homework routine.
Teachers are in explain homework tasks during class time, so expectations are clear, and students are encouraged to discuss and ask for clarification of tasks set.
Failure to complete homework to a suitable standard, without parental explanation, will result in natural and /or logical consequences. The teacher is to inform parents if homework is consistently unsatisfactory.
Homework is to be signed and dated by a staff member and appropriate feedback is encouraged to be given to students and parents.
Homework is not to be used as a behaviour management strategy.

Reflection Material

7 Types of homework