AIBU to think that schools shouldn't dish out detention to pupils who can't complete online homework as they do not have access to a pc or laptop at home?

[NellysKnickers]

As the title says, there is a homework club after school once a week but this keeps being cancelled. I've told DS1 if they do carry out the threat of detention then I will ring the school. Any teachers out there who can offer their point of view? as I'm failing to see the schools side in this.

Thanks all. Some good advice. I will send am email to his head of year, just asking what they advise. To be clear I AM NOT HAVING A GO AT TEACHERS, their jobs are hard enough as it is, its the policy of the school which I feel needs looking at. Getting a laptop /pc is not an option. We have two tablets and an 2 smartphones. I cannot justify the expense for an 11 year olds homework with so many other outgoings. DH and I go without a lot so the dcs don't have to as it is, the next thing to give up would be food!!!

I agree that schools shouldn't assume that every pupil has access to a laptop at home, but going forward, you will seriously need to look at acquiring a laptop. At 11 you can get round it, but by GCSEs and A levels it will be a serious handicap not being able to have access to one, or whatever will be used in 5 - 7 years time.

Are there any on Freecycle?

I hope you get a helpful response op. I know our school go out of our way to support pupils who may have limited access to it but the solution has to be a compromise on everyone's part.

He could maximise his time by doing any research he needs using the tablet then just typing up answers using the school's system.

"Getting a laptop /pc is not an option. "
Why? Why are you so definite? Freestyle? Cheap old ones on local Facebook selling pages? Ask on Facebook if anyone has an old one they don't need?

Ones on eBay, yes not the latest or the fastest but will still do, for anything between £85 some as cheap as £20

why would you not pay this or why would you not save to get him one?

you seem very certain as if this is it given that he's not going to have one.

there are ways round this.

Sorry but all children now need access to the internet and a means of getting on It. It's a parents responsibility to facilitate this. If you are poor most schools can assist with a laptop

Your child can't do their GCSEs without a laptop or computer it's impossible. Do you smoke? Drink? I'm amazed that anyone thinks it's acceptable for a secondary school child not to have the means to learn. It's not a luxury.

Tbf you can get a keyboard for a tablet to make typing homework easier. There are Bluetooth compatible keyboards for £15-30 on amazon etc. The browser options you can look into as well to be able to access the school hmwk database from a tablet/ smart phone. There should be IT support from the school to advise you on this. Check the school website / or go into the school office and request a hard copy of the school homework policy. If you have problems accessing this, or any issues after you have spoken to the head of year, complain to the governors, they need to be giving the school leadership team a better steer on this situation if when you take reasonable steps to help your dc complete homework, the school is not supporting you.

How did you type this post?
Could your DS not use the same equipment to do their homework?

I mumsnet on a phone

Assuming people have printers is unreasonable I think. My children now have the majority of their homework set and completed online but hardly any of it is ever printed. Now that most web tickets and vouchers can be used on people's phones I think that the days of everyone who isn't on the breadline having a printer and ink were just a passing phase.

Re the OP's immediate problem I'm with the majority - go to the school and express your concerns, ask for a solution.

Could he not use whatever device your using now to access the internet to complete his homework?

Four pages about something that hasn't actually happened 🙄

A lot of schools now (mine included) set homework online. We also receive it online and 90% of the time I mark it online and send it back online. It baffles me why this isn't more widely done, it saves so much paper! I can also link each learning intention to each array / homework, and link it to assessment.

A cheap laptop and dongle should be on your Christmas list. It's only going to get more and more paperless.

I had this conversation with DD and DH just this week. DD went into High School this Sep. She has homework every day from various lessons, at least one (and usually 2) per day needs to be completed online.

Not an issue for us, we have a home PC and printer and can afford to bit DD a laptop for Xmas.

However I can well believe there are children for which this will be impossible:

Our town doesn't have a library or Internet cafe etc.

The poorest area is also the one with the worst internet connectivity.

The school homework room is open from 3:15 to 5, but only has 20 PCs and you have to pay for copies/prints. There are 1500 students in the school.

The poorest area uses a school bus that leaves at 3:30 sharp - there is no direct bus service after that (although there is one that takes you into the next town 5 miles away from which they could catch another bus back home).

The online homework platform isn't compatible with phones/tablets.

As for buying a laptop and paying for internet - At her 'poorest' DNeice was surviving on £62 a week for her and her DD. Paying out a fiver for internet is hard enough, let alone forking out for laptop/printer/printing ink/datastick.

Given you have two tablets, two smartphones and the internet then pleading poverty isn't actually true.

A second hand laptop could be picked up off eBay very cheaply, use his child benefit if need be as it's there to provide things they need.

Most secondary schools expect computer use, it's nothing new.

I disagree. You don't know how the op has those devices.

I have an iPhone 6. It was given to me brand new. It's also a work phone so I don't actually pay towards it all all. Just because I have one of those doesn't mean I can go out & buy a computer for my child.

We set all Hw to be handed in online via Turnitin software. Many secondaries/FE and HE institutions also do this - it means work doesn't get lost and it can't be argued if it was in on time/late. We have over 100 PC's available for student use during lunchtime/break time/ school holidays and until 6pm every evening. I can't really see how not having one at home is a valid excuse.

OP Someone else asked but I didn't see an answer - have you tried differeent browsers on the tablet?

For those of you that this isn't clear to THE HOMEWORK SITES USED ARE NOT COMPATIBLE TO TABLETS or SMARTPHONES, if they were this thread would not have been started. YES I am using a smartphone, it's free with my contract paying £15 a month. I will not be purchasing a laptop from Gumtree or any other selling site having been burnt before and losing money. Thanks for all those suggesting we purchase a laptop as ds needs one...............if only life was that easy eh??!!

We have over 100 PC's available for student use during lunchtime/break time/ school holidays and until 6pm every evening. I can't really see how not having one at home is a valid excuse.

It's a valid excuse because the OP's school doesn't have over 100 PCs.

And at using child benefit for buying a laptop. Ours is used for school shoes and uniform, school trips, food etc.....

Soup dragon, thanks. I will get my IT buddy at work on board, she may be able to tweak something for us.

YANBU. The school is. Contact them before a detention happens.

This may or may not apply to you, but if your child qualifies for FSM (free school meals), the school gets a pupil premium amount per pupil in this category. You can ask the head for funds to buy a computer.

I know people who've done it.

CEX are worth a look if you want to slowly save up for a second hand laptop - you've got much more comeback with them than with private sellers on Gumtree or EBay.

It does seem weird that the homework sites don't work on the tablet. You normally have the option of desktop view tucked away at the bottom of the site and a choice of different browsers. If you let us know what the sites are then someone may be able to talk you through a workaround. It shouldn't be too identifying because by definition these sites are used by loads of schools.

YY to the FSM/PP thing. DNeice was able to get a laptop for her DD when she was 14 via the school (after a long time battling the same issues as you OP)