One alternative has been the Homework Grid developed by former school principal Dr Ian Lillico. It recognises that all children need a balance in the activities they undertake.

The “homework grid” strategy requires children to perform household chores and reading and spelling tasks every day but gives them up to a month to complete maths, science and technology tasks.

This was published 11 years ago Reclaiming family time over homework gets A+ More parents put life skills over bookwork, write Phillip Ly, Nicky Phillips, Amy McNeilage.