TRINITY GRAMMAR SCHOOL, KEW

HOMEWORK POLICY
INTRODUCTION
This policy outlines the reasons for requiring students at Trinity Grammar School to complete
homework, and the nature, extent and management of that homework.

POLICY
Education research demonstrates that regular homework correlates with improved academic
outcomes.
While we regard homework as important, it needs to be seen in the context of a balanced and healthy
personal and family life. The nature of that balance changes as a student progresses through the
school, particularly when undertaking external assessment.
Homework in primary and lower secondary years is principally important for:
developing positive academic habits and routines;
practising skills in mastery learning contexts. It may also be for the completion of work,
enhancement and developing the students ability to realise how they best learn.
Teachers at Trinity endeavour to set homework tasks which are meaningful and supported by research
on homework effectiveness.

SCOPE
This policy applies to all teachers and students at Trinity Grammar School.

PROCEDURES
Time
As a general rule, the amount of time spent per night on homework should be the students year level
multiplied by ten minutes (e.g. 70 minutes per night for Year 7 students);
Research indicates that significantly more time than this spent per night is of minimal benefit and may
be counter-productive.
Students in Years P-8 may be set up to four sessions of homework in each subject per week. Students
in Years 9-12 may be set five sessions of homework weekly.
Students in Years P-10 will not be set homework over school holidays, with the following exceptions:
Students may be required to finish work they have not completed in term time.
Where sufficient time is allowed for the completion of the task after the holidays, some
students may elect to complete some or all of the task during the holidays.
Students in Years 9 and 10, as well as VCE students, may be required to undertake
preparatory reading during the summer holidays.
Students at any level may be required to read a novel during the holidays.

Years P- 2 Procedures
Students should:
Complete the following homework tasks as set by their class teacher:
Prep
o Nightly Reading

o Reading and Revising High Frequency Words

Year 1
o Nightly Reading
o Spelling Revision
Year 2
o Nightly Reading
o Spelling Revision
o Preparation for Weekly Show and Tell presentation on specific topics.
Teachers should:
Set and monitor homework tasks regularly
Parents should:
Assist their child with reading and revision tasks where appropriate
Communicate any difficulties with the class teacher.

Years 3-10 Procedures

Students should:
enter details of homework in their diary as soon as it is set. The entry should be recorded next
to the subject name and contain sufficient description for a third party, especially a parent, to
be able to identify the nature of the work set. A due date for submission of homework should
also be entered.
Phrases like Project, Test, Do Questions are not appropriate. Specific information is
needed, e.g.: Finish 3F read p 35-36 Examples 1-3 rather than Finish Maths.
record in their diary, in advance, the nights allocated to work on extended projects or tasks.
Teachers should:
regularly set appropriate homework
clearly inform students of the nature of the homework task and the due date for submission.
regularly check that homework has been completed and impose consequences on students
who have failed to complete homework without an excuse.
assist students by identifying components of an extended task or project to be completed at
each homework session.
Class/Form Teachers should:
sight and sign student diaries daily (Years 3 6) or weekly (Years 7 10).
Parents should:
regularly monitor students homework and check and sight and sign diaries daily ( Years 3-6)
or weekly (Years 7 10).
communicate concerns regarding homework via the student diary, or email to the subject,
class or form teacher

Years 11 12 Procedures
At VCE level, students are responsible for independently managing their homework schedule and
workload. Students should contact their subject teacher or Head of Year if they feel they are having
difficulty managing their commitments.
Where a student is not meeting homework requirements, the subject teacher should, in the first
instance, contact the Head of Year.

DELEGATED AUTHORITY
Deputy Headmaster Head of Senior School
Head of Junior School
Heads of Year
Class and Form Teachers
Subject Teachers

RELATED POLICIES
Curriculum Policy
Diary Policy

CONTACT
Nicholas Browne, Director of Curriculum & Professional Learning
Rick Jacobs, Deputy Head of Junior School (Curriculum).

STATUS
Issued: 26 February 2010