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Original poster

Primary school homework ONLY available online?

139 replies

HereBeFuckery · 09/12/2022 18:56

I'll start by saying I am raging about this, but I'll try not to rant.
DDs school has started setting homework (after a bad Ofsted, but that's another thread).

Homework is ONLY posted on this fucking stupid 'Showbie' app. No other way to access. I must have missed a notification, as I don't check the shitty app daily, because, well, I have a life.

DD missed a piece that was set on Wednesday and due today, as she doesn't have her own phone (because she is eight), or her own tablet or laptop - she uses one of ours when she wants to.

As a result, she missed break time today.

The 'homework'?
"Tell me your favourite Christmas joke"

Give me a fucking break. That's not even close to homework, so lets acknowledge you're phoning it in. Fine. Do not then punish a kid for your shit system that is predicated on her having free access to technology WHICH SHE DOESN'T HAVE.

I'm considering writing to school and saying that we don't allow her to use phones or tablets and so homework will need to be set another way.

Before the pile on, I am also a teacher, but secondary. We set online homework and it is school policy to offer EVERY kid a paper copy too. Because we don't assume access to technology. If I set such a shit piece of homework with 2 days to complete and didn't offer a paper alternative to the online portal, I would be in trouble.

OP posts:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 09/12/2022 19:48

Drives you made. Homework needs to come on a physical piece of paper for primary aged kids. Give them a worksheet, or instructions on a piece of paper with a book to write in.

Helpplease888 · 09/12/2022 19:48

purpleme12 · 09/12/2022 19:13

Ours makes them do the homework at playtime if it's not done.

Show quote history

Nooo punishing children for not reading by making them read at playtime will do nothing towards developing a love of reading for the child. I can’t believe people do this.

BridetoBee · 09/12/2022 19:50

Could they be assuming access because they provide it if needed? My local school will loan (for the length of the school place) a device and a portable router for wifi if needed.

Original poster
HereBeFuckery · 09/12/2022 19:51

Of course online work isn't unusual. What's ridiculous is that their punishment implies they consider DD should be taking responsibility for checking Showbie for homework. She can do that if she asks. She can't do it whenever. I refuse to budge on that for a while longer, as I don't want her to be a device holding zombie.

If they are in fact holding parents responsible for checking the bloody app, then they can try and get me to stay in for break since I was the one who didn't check it was set/due.

You can't have it every which way.

OP posts:
Keylimewhy · 09/12/2022 19:52

HereBeFuckery · 09/12/2022 19:51

Of course online work isn't unusual. What's ridiculous is that their punishment implies they consider DD should be taking responsibility for checking Showbie for homework. She can do that if she asks. She can't do it whenever. I refuse to budge on that for a while longer, as I don't want her to be a device holding zombie.

If they are in fact holding parents responsible for checking the bloody app, then they can try and get me to stay in for break since I was the one who didn't check it was set/due.

You can't have it every which way.

But surely she can do it whenever, as all she would need to do is remember and ask?

Jules912 · 09/12/2022 19:52

My DC's homework is online, but it's always set on the same day with a week to do it AND they can ask for a paper copy if they need it.

purpleme12 · 09/12/2022 19:53

HereBeFuckery · 09/12/2022 19:51

Of course online work isn't unusual. What's ridiculous is that their punishment implies they consider DD should be taking responsibility for checking Showbie for homework. She can do that if she asks. She can't do it whenever. I refuse to budge on that for a while longer, as I don't want her to be a device holding zombie.

If they are in fact holding parents responsible for checking the bloody app, then they can try and get me to stay in for break since I was the one who didn't check it was set/due.

You can't have it every which way.

Well that bit is not unreasonable no.
Schools usually have a set day that they put homework on and a set day they want it done by

Original poster
HereBeFuckery · 09/12/2022 19:56

@Keylimewhy she would need to remember to ask to check every day. She is eight. She doesn't. I don't want her developing a daily 'must check something online' habit.
When the homework app was launched 10 days ago, we were informed it was weekly homework set on Thursday and due a week later. How could she have guessed she would need to check for random shit tasks and that they would be due two days later?
They weren't told about the homework verbally. You had to log in to find out it was there. That's admin for me.

I'm going to email school and say she is withdrawn from homework from now. I'm also going to ask what learning objective was fulfilled by this homework.

OP posts:
Original poster
HereBeFuckery · 09/12/2022 19:57

Oh, and there's no homework set on this Thursday! So much for 'weekly on a Thursday'. Gah.

OP posts:
Mynotsoperfectlittlefamily · 09/12/2022 19:57

My childs school has it all online too. He hasn't done a single piece of homework and he is now in y2. He doesnt have access to the internet and he isnt touching our devices as we couldn't afford to replace them several times a year. it is a ridiculous system.

Wishawisha · 09/12/2022 20:02

Our school does a lot of homework really but not a single piece of it has ever been online. They come home with it in single pieces of paper or stuck into workbooks in their bags.

Obviously we had to use Teams for homeschooling but nothing online since that the children need to view (obviously the parents use the school’s portal for admin..)

I much prefer this way tbh. We don’t do much time on devices here (not being a technophobe.. it’s a considered decision) and my primary age children barely know how to use an iPad or phone. The time will come I’m sure.

Abraxan · 09/12/2022 20:02

Have you previously told the school that you are unable to complete or access homework online?
Did they give you an alternative format?

We set home learning online. It's optional anyway BUT parents are informed at the start of the year that they can requests hard copies instead if required. We only have one or two in the school who ask for them but we will provide them if required, however it's not automatic, we do need parents to let us know.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 09/12/2022 20:03

When the homework app was launched 10 days ago, we were informed it was weekly homework set on Thursday and due a week later.

Do you think it might be worth calming down and seeing if they set it next Thursday?

Sceptre86 · 09/12/2022 20:03

If they are going to set homework surely it should be to some sort of standard? My eldest is 6, her homework is set on a Tuesday and has to be handed in the following Monday. She gets 8 spellings a week with 4 of them being the common words for that week, she is expected to do some kind of maths work set on activelearning website and often has some form of topic work to do. With her spellings she has a learning grid with different ways she can practice writing them. Her homework was all online for her first year of school till parents pointed out how crap the app was for children learning to write as they were basically using their fingertips instead of actually practicing how to hold a pencil. We were then given a jotter to do the homework in to upload. This year she has a choice whether to use the seesaw app or do her work in the jotter. She does not have a phone but we did buy her a tablet for accessing the maths websites and that works well.

Speak to the school, air your grievances and see what they say.

Pineconederby · 09/12/2022 20:04

I’d be very upset by this, OP. It’s just so blatantly unfair and discriminates against those who are poor and can’t afford the tech, those who choose not to use/allow tech and, quite likely, those to whom the app is inaccessible due to physical issues, e.g. eyesight. All children should be given equal access to the curriculum and it sounds as though the school has forgotten this.

With regard to the piece of work set - give me strength! Talk about taking all the fun out of Christmas by punishing someone for not doing work they didn’t know about.

When it comes to the info that was given out - eg set on a Thursday - maybe someone needs to remind school that they can’t chop and change like this and expect parents to keep up. However, IME, they expect all parents to be available at all times and to jump to attention when meetings are set up at the last minute, equipment is required or attendance at some last minute event is needed. Piss up and brewery spring to mind 🥲

Pineconederby · 09/12/2022 20:07

@Abraxan - so your default is to assume the tech is there and available and to ‘other’ those wanting homework in a traditional format? Wow.

Parker231 · 09/12/2022 20:07

Homework in primary is optional - IME it shouldn’t be set. No eight year needs a phone to access homework. I would escalate this through to the Head and Governors.

SavingKitten · 09/12/2022 20:10

Did they actually refuse to give paper copies when you asked? Punishing is wrong in primary school even if it was all paper based. My DCs school is all online homework but I asked for paper copies and they happily agreed, I’d have been very annoyed if they didn’t.

Wishawisha · 09/12/2022 20:13

I’m really surprised by how many schools seem to set homework mostly online going on these replies! Thankfully it doesn’t seem to have been considered by our school at all.

Apart from maths and spelling the whole point of homework just seems to be in getting them to practice writing by hand. Sometimes it’s in the guise of an assignment for history or even science but the goal seems to be the same - get the child to write. Maybe some schools look at it completely differently.

ouch321 · 09/12/2022 20:13

People here seem to be constantly 'raging' about such minor things.

Send an email asking that h/w be given to her in paper format from now on as she doesn't have tech access. Matter dealt with.

Original poster
HereBeFuckery · 09/12/2022 20:15

@TheYearOfSmallThings
"Do you think it might be worth calming down and seeing if they set it next Thursday?"

Sure. I'll calm down when they apologise for the fucking detention for not writing a joke on a screen and pressing send.

OP posts:
Original poster
HereBeFuckery · 09/12/2022 20:18

@SavingKitten I haven't asked as we have only had this system 10 days and I hadn't realised the depths of the shittery they had inflicted on us.

I don't want to manage DDs homework. I don't want to have her check an app regularly.

I absolutely don't want her learning that she must jump through hoops or be punished.

OP posts:
TheYearOfSmallThings · 09/12/2022 20:18

Sure. I'll calm down when they apologise for the fucking detention for not writing a joke on a screen and pressing send.

Or...you could calm down now. Or you can choose to stay in a rage - whatever you think is better.

AlwaysFullOfQuestions22 · 09/12/2022 20:19

I have a college age kid and in primary his was online it got introduced when he was in year 3. But younger years too

It was more websites than apps.

Maybe get into a routine to check daily?

Once they get older it becomes much more.

Original poster
HereBeFuckery · 09/12/2022 20:20

@ouch321
I'm raging because DD is really upset. She is still upset and intermittently going quiet/having a bit of a cry five hours later. She's NEVER been in trouble before - she's super conscientious. It's made me furious to see her so upset over something so pathetic as a joke.

OP posts:
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