Does anyone else have to pay for homework?

[Kellamity]

We haven't come across this before (3rd primary school as we're a forces family) but this year we have been as asked to buy homework books for the children. They only cost a couple of £s each but they don't get the books until we've paid and this week a couple of children (not mine) got detention for not doing their maths homework - because the money hadn't been sent in and so they hadn't got their book!

Somehow this just seems like a funny way to approach homework. Does anyone else have a similar system at their school?

We had to buy revision guides and workbooks in GCSE year. The homework was often set from these. But not in Primary.

i think that's shocking!!!!

totally and utterly unfair to give children detention because their parents haven't paid for books

what kind of school would do that?

YANBU

Fine to ask for donations towards homework books as budgets are very tight. Totally unreasonable to give children detention because their parents have not paid!

i would also ask why they need homework books. are the teachers not capable of setting appropriate homework themselves? do they just work through the books?

Yes they just work through the books. The older children for 20 mins once a week and the younger children 10 mins.

what key stage is this? cos i am sure i remember someone saying that in KS1 homework is not enforceable anyway

DS is KS1 and had one for the first time this year (Y2)

DD is KS2 and we bought hers last year, she's just about to finish it so they last for a fair while (for my dcs anyway!!)

is it a private school?

No not private.

i feel almost sure that schools can't charge pupils to do homework, esp not in KS1, and they definitely cannot punish them for not doing it.

personally I would see this as a great opportunity to go in and have a chat with head teacher and question him/her on why they do it like this, why they can't set their own homework, wtf they think they're doing punishing kids for not doing it etc etc....

The detention was a KS2 child (Y5) I'm not sure they use detentions in KS1

from adviceguide.org.uk

Charging for education
What schools must provide free of charge
All schools, except independent schools, must provide free education and cannot charge for any activity (or materials, books, exam entry fees or equipment for use in connection with an activity) which:
is an essential part of the national curriculum or religious education syllabus; or
is an essential part of the syllabus for a prescribed examination; or
takes place wholly or mainly during school hours.

Never heard of it but I feel sure that in a situation like this ds would show a touching concern for the family budget

and

Homework
Pupils do not legally have to do homework. Schools are encouraged to draw up detailed policies for homework. These policies should set out any sanctions for not doing homework. If the pupil does not do homework that has been set in these circumstances, the school could argue that the pupil is in breach of school policy and rules and could take steps to discipline them, as long as the policy and rules are clearly stated and reasonable.

thisisyesterday that is very useful information!

so, i would be asking

1. is the homework an essential part of the national curriculum
   1a) if yes then they can't charge
   1b) then why are they setting it?

2. can you see their homework policy
   2a) if they don't have it then they can bugger off with their paying and their punishments.

sorry 1b should be, if NOT, then why are they setting it

There is no way that they should be charging for books like this. Thisisyesterday has summarised the rules and this school is taking advantage. I would make a formal complaint in writing to the headteacher and see what happens. If you do not get a result that is either no homework or no payment for books then escalate the complaint to the governing body.

I have recently become a parent governor, maybe I can look into this a bit more esp after reading thisisyesterdays info