Canceling Homework in Primary school

[CambsMummy]

I am looking for advice/opinions on the decision that the headteacher of my sons school has made regarding homework. Due to some parents complaints and abusive behaviour towards teachers regarding making their children complete homework tasks the head teacher has now stopped homework altogether. To me this seems outrageous, I am aware there is no legal obligiation, but to me this seems absolutley crazy?

Totally agree with MikeRotch.

Shame the head said it was because they were pressured in to it though, and not because it was a positive decision.

I think the fact that the head has been bullied into this is a little worrying. 'Abusive behaviour' over homework seems very ott.

Why is the head giving in to bullying parents??
Have no problem with homework at any age

Lucky you ! Homework is the low point of our weekend . I would rather do 5/10 mins a day of activities such as reading and number practice with my DC. They resent the homework and because of the song and dance they make about it , it make me and DH miserable too !

He sounds very sensible. But it will only work if he changes the curriculum too, so that children learn more during school hours. At present teachers depend on parents teaching reading, spelling instilling times tables and all the rest. That's why so many fall behind.

Still no homework gets a nod fromme.

i would love that dd year 3 has pieces of homework in a week on top of reading and spelling ( reading she loves spelling she can take or leave) and if the homeworks not done they have to stay in at break to do it

Can people who don't like howmework calrify something:

Are you saying no to reading, timestable and spelling practice?

or

Are you saying no to 'weekend work'?

Why is it such a big deal?

There are studies - sorry, not sure where, I'll have to ask my "source" that prove that the only homework which has any impact on children;s learning is reading and learning tables.

Most schools are abandoning spelling tests now as they are completely ineffective.

If children are not supported at home in other areas such as maths and science - are the teachers going to have enough time in the school day to ensure that every child has grasped a certain topic?

A teacher shouldn't need homework to find out if a child they're teaching has grasped the lesson or not. And homework is usually done with a parent's "help" so doesn;t give a very good indicator of understanding anyway!

Me thinks the parents complain more than the kids

Absolutely. Because kids don't know any better and generally do what they are told to do.

I am a grown up and have done some research and reading and would rather my primary aged children did something worthwhile (or even not worthwhile!) in the time that they woud be doing homework.

Good plan. Perhaps in Y5 or Y6 but not for younger children. Just spellings, times tables and reading.

I'm generally with Baroque.
I like doing homework with my boys. I want to be involved in what they're doing, I want to see what they need help with. How else will I be able to identify and raise any issues with the school? from a couple of parents evenings and a report full of stock phrases?
My biggest issue at our school is with the seemly random nature of what is given and when.
My yr 6 son, is grammar stream and has quite a bit of homework, some maths, some comprehension and then a long term topic or something of interest.
My yr 5 son, is dyscalculic, he's the one who needs homework and he gets hardly anything.
I can only presume they give homework to the brighter dc and not bother with the rest, because ds1 had plenty in yr 5. That's disappointing imo
I want to see on a weekly basis what maths ds2 is covering, in the hope I can support him further.

What I didn't need was endless projects over the weekend involving making models of Tudor ships. I can do stuff with my children myself. We make cakes and plant seeds. I don't need teachers dreaming up things for us to do. I used to spend most of my children's year fives sourcing pipe cleaners and corrugated cardboard for the weekend's creations.

how long does homework take anyway?

DS is in Y2 - he does weekly spelling, daily reading with at least 1 book review a week and a piece on Fridays to be handed in on the Monday.

This weeks homework was to write directions from our front door to his room - using words such as move forwards, take 12 steps etc . It took 15mins!

The book review is normally a midweek thing - that takes about 25mins - on days where we do a review, we dont do anything else. The review has doen wonders for his comprehension and story writing and has encouraged use of dictionary.

Maybe our schools approach is brilliant but I would think that enhancing what you have learnt at school is good.

My fear (no, i don't lose sleep over this) is that some parents will not be actively involved in their DCs education if no work is brought home?

Anyway, my kids are happy with homework and my DS begs for more stuff so, we are all [smiles]

I love that homework abr1de

I would complain as there are kids who enjoy doing extra work. Why should they suffer because some parents can't be bothered to do homework wi their kids. Some parents need to step up and take responsibility. You are definitely not being unreasonable to want homework.

What ticks me off about my child's primary school is there is no consistency. Homework one week (research a topic, write a poem maybe) then nothing for two or three weeks. It rarely gets marked so youngest DS gets really disheartened.

They are supposed to read every night but the books are seldom changed (despite the fact they get certificates for hitting a certain amount of books over the term.) They have no maths, just tables but what happens when they can recite them backwards, forwards and upside down?

So we can't get as routine going for homework - I assume the teacher doesn't want to set or mark it and this is her passive-aggressive way of showing this . In which case, it would be better being dropped altogether.

Still don't like the idea of parents being abusive and getting their own way.

To the OP, are you more cross about the non-consultation about this change or about the change itself?

I assume there will be discussions of some sort on how this change affects the children's home life, academic and non-academic progress. If there are no discussions then it seems too autocratic and sudden.

What forums are there at the school for voicing opinions and knowing what other teachers and parents think? This could be the issue which provokes development of better communication and discussions within the school.

Personally I think no home work at primary is wonderful!

If it is the non-consult I may be able to explain why. DCs primary head wanted to abolish homework. He consulted parents, including focus groups. 1/3 wanted more homework, 1/3 didn't know, 1/3 wanted it abolished. The result was stalemate for two years then he did it without consulting.

(However teachers still send home the occasional finish off, or project in year 6, or optional homework.)

It is a problem everlong.

We get in at around 5.30pm - 6.00pm. Betime is 7,30pm (just been increased from 7.00pm now ds is 7 and year 2.

Homework for ds is a HUGE battle due to low self esteem he beleives he can;t do it so it takes a huge amount of input from me - impossible whilst cooking tea. Dh works away in the week and I work Friday evenings and Saturdays so the dc go to grandparnets who have other granchildrne to look after to and don;t do homework.

That leaves Sunday so if we plan to go out as a family (our only day we get to spend together it is nigh on impossible.

I HATE IT and I hate how it makes ds feel and how it affects dd's ability to do her activities she loves.

ours are expected to do 30 mins a night on top of reading.And year 3 i think that is way to much

For working parents, homework in the week is a nightmare and should be avoided until the kids can do it under their own steam IMO.