Creating a department homework monitoring policy

Having a homework monitoring policy that both teachers and students understand and stick to is essential for getting the best engagement for your students. 

Start with clear hand-in and hand-out days

The choice of hand-out and hand-in days should be considered carefully to ensure that:

• Teachers have enough time to monitor progress toward completion
• There is time to give support and encouragement to students

When choosing your hand-out/hand-in days and times, consider having:

• Hand-in on the same day as a timetabled lesson: students who have completed their homework can be praised. Students who have not completed their homework can be reminded to do so.
• The same hand-out and hand-in days across the school (or at least each year group): this helps support clear and consistent messaging about expectations
• A weekend between hand-out and hand-in days: this gives students more time to complete their work.

Set clear expectations for completion

Make sure to set clear expectations for both staff and students from the beginning. 

For students:

• What do you expect students to have done and by when?
• What will you do if this expectation is met?
• What will you do if this expectation is not met?
  

For staff:

Take a look at our video explaining how to use the Hand-in page to monitor and encourage the completion of homework:

Find out more about the Hand-in page on our article: What can I see and do on the Hand-in page?

Help support students to complete their reading each week

1. Remind teachers to use the Hand-in page to monitor homework. We have seen that schools that use this page regularly have the best engagement and can better support their students.
2. Set up a reading club. Homework clubs can be vital in supporting students who need a quiet space, or who don't always have access to a device or the internet at home.