At Rose Bay High School we believe homework plays a critical role in the academic progress of our students and as a consequence students are expected to undertake additional work outside of school hours.  We feel that there are many benefits to be gained from a systematic and structured homework program.

Homework realistically set, effectively attempted and quickly marked and returned, is a significant tool in the educational development of students in that it helps teachers by:

• Providing an assessment of the effectiveness of their teaching

• Measuring a student’s readiness to move to the next step of learning

• Providing additional practice in literacy and numeracy skills

Homework, sadly, is often seen by many as a punishment or an imposition, rather than realising that it is a significant formative factor in the educational development of students.

Teachers believe that homework is important because it:

• Provides an opportunity for the revision of material that has been taught

• Helps develop sound learning and study habits

• Develops organisational and time management skills

• Helps develop a capacity for independent learning in students

• Enables revision for tests

Homework also provides an opportunity for there to be a positive communication between school and home and for parents to monitor their child’s learning.  It encourages positive attitudes towards study at home and enables parents to provide assistance if required.

We believe that teachers, parents and students have obligations regarding homework.

Teacher Obligations

1. Teachers understand that homework can be a pressure point for some students and for some students homework is a low priority

2. Teachers should develop a homework program and schedule with students in advance so that

• Homework is varied, interesting, challenging and relevant

• Homework does not deal with concepts or material not explicitly taught in class

• Homework is marked or acknowledged in some way

• Teachers agree to adhere to the negotiated timetable

• Homework timetable is clear and understood

• Homework is consistent, regular and predictable

• Homework is flexible so as to cater for the different learning needs of the diverse range of student abilities

• Homework is not a punishment for misbehaviour

Parent Obligations

1. Parents to provide wherever possible

• A suitable place for their children to do homework

• Any materials required for the completion of the tasks

• Help if requested

2. Parents to realise

• That in some subjects, especially practical subjects, homework may not be appropriate and may not be set as regularly

• In some subjects where work is covered in units, homework may be ongoing and expected at the completion of the unit

• Some Grade 10 subjects may require an extra homework commitment

3. Parents to help students find balance between demands of homework, family obligations, casual employment, and sporting and leisure commitments

Student Obligations

1. Students to accept

• The reality that homework is a necessary part of high school education

• The importance homework plays in the development of sound study skills that will benefit them later in their further studies

• Homework is an extension of learning tasks in the classroom

2. Students are to keep an accurate record of set homework and assignment deadlines in a Student Planner which will be checked periodically by the class teacher

3. Students working at the most demanding courses in subjects in Grades 9 and 10 must realise that their success may depend on their willingness to need to spend more than the allocated time on these subjects

4. If homework is not set or completed early, students should:

• Read for pleasure – all students should have a novel of their choice to read

• Plan ahead by updating their planners

• Undertake revision – students should be encouraged to revise and reflect on completed work, especially as they enter the senior years of high school

Suggested Time Allocations

Grade 7/8        1-1.5 hours per night

Grade 9/10      1.5 - 2 hours per night