Homework and study

Homework reinforces and supports the things your children learn in school.

It is designed to get your children thinking and applying what they learn in different ways and develops them into independent learners.

In secondary school, your children receive specific tasks and projects designed to apply their knowledge in different ways – for example creative writing, oral presentations, essays, exams and assignments.

You can help your children when they first start secondary school by:

• setting aside a set time each day for homework (also allow time for play and relaxation)
• setting up a ‘homework station’ where your children can do their homework
• setting up a schedule for big projects that take longer to complete so they are not left with one day to finish it
• letting your children complete their homework by themselves – this fosters independent learning
• asking your children to explain what they have done – explaining things in their own words is a great way to learn
• checking your children’s homework when they are done for the day and working through any errors together
• knowing where your children are up to with their homework so they do not fall behind.

You can support your children in the later years of secondary school by making sure they:

• eat well and have plenty of sleep
• have a work/life balance – excessive study is not good for your children’s health and wellbeing
• have a routine they can follow.

If your children are having problems with their homework or with a specific subject, ask their teacher to spend some extra time helping them through the task.

Talk with your children’s teacher about the school’s homework policy for more details.