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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Do you agree with homework in Primary

335 replies

Toastiesforever · 28/09/2023 13:03

I disagree with homework in primary school and quite frankly im amazed its still handed out and expected.

I have 3 DC in primary school and we have never done homework, my theory is that my children have enough education in school and as parents we should educate outside of school however we see fit.

For us this includes them reading books, Harry potter, Jacqueline Wilson, david Williams etc - we are lucky that my children love reading.

They will always participate in school talks/presentations and projects.

All my children are involved within the school Litter picking committees, School newspaper, music lessons within school.

And furthermore they are in competitive level sports outwith school which require substantial training hours.

Local days out like airshows, community days and city celebrations.

Ive noticed that most teachers my Dcs have had through the years really agree that homework is not required in primary yet we have this year we have came up against a teacher that says its required for my oldest DC.

I still said no, am i being unreasonable.

OP posts:
BabbleBee · 28/09/2023 13:10

I think YABU.

Like you say learning does extend into home life, and a gentle introduction into work being handed in through year 6 particularly is a good way of getting ready for high school.

Unfortunately not all children have the life and support you describe and need the direction of homework and to start experiencing the concepts of individual learning to come from school, not parents / carers.

Amy71452 · 28/09/2023 13:09

I absolutely do, whilst we do our own learning I imagine many don't. It's also allows for much more structure in learning in lessons.

It's quite engaging here and rewards for homework. Eg. When learning spellings they either write them out and have a test later. Or if they're challenging G&T like my daughter she writes it into a sentence and gets extra prizes at the end of term for finding and using a new word similar to it.

It only takes max half an hour a day, and doesn't impact our home learning of reading at bed etc

PuttingDownRoots · 28/09/2023 13:09

Define homework.

Reading books in reception when the daily practice helps cement the foundations?
Times table practice?
Worksheets?
"Art" projects which are more the parent work than child?
SATs revision books?

I would agree with some of those but not others...

dearanon · 28/09/2023 13:08

I disagree with homework across primary and secondary schooling.

Laiste · 28/09/2023 13:08

No i don't agree with homework in primary school.

Reading - yes. VERY important and there is sadly such a lack of parental engagement wrt reading with children.

Perhaps if there was no other work sent home more accompanied reading would get done? One task: read with your kid for just a few minutes a some point in the day.

Ponoka7 · 28/09/2023 13:08

Not all children's lives are equal. A good education system can balance things out. It pin points those children whose home lives are chaotic etc.

Gerrataere · 28/09/2023 13:08

I disagree with homework at any level that isn’t revision for GCSEs or A Levels. Of course many jobs means taking work home but it’s certainly not something that needs to be taught to primary school age children.

Parker231 · 28/09/2023 13:06

We didn’t do it in primary school years - no time with being in after school club until 6/6.30

towriteyoumustlive · 28/09/2023 13:06

It depends what the HW is.

Our school set reading and times tables as homework then have optional extras.

Asking a parent to listen to their child read 5x a week is perfectly fine. I have no objection to helping them learn their tables either as they're essential.

Anything else I tend not to so as we're too busy so we only do a couple of the extra tasks over the year.

saymynamesaymy · 28/09/2023 13:05

Idtyabu. I hate the homework. Ds is autistic and struggles at school as it is without extra work to do at home, it really distresses him.