The head of the School of Education and Community Studies at the University of Canberra, Professor Denis Goodrum, said "drill-style" homework had a limited effect on learning for young students.

He was commenting on a call by the Australian Council of State Schools Organisations a national umbrella group of school parent organisations for homework to be scrapped for primary school children.

Professor Goodrum said more needed to be done by schools, in cooperation with parents, to develop child-friendly and effective learning practices.

"I think there is limited effect on learning with repetitive types of set homework," he said.

"Instead there are many engaging ways for children to learn even visits to places like Questacon are probably more valuable or worthwhile, but is not homework in the traditional sense."

The parents' council called for an Australian review of homework, citing limited evidence of the benefits of homework in overseas studies and concern that homework loads were adversely affecting family life.