Is there a way of handling lack of homework?

[PastSellByDate]

Dear all:

I'm well known here for grumbling about unimaginative and limited homework at DDs' school. Thus my hesitation to go into battle yet again about lack of homework. So I'd like to explain our situation and see what you Mumsnetters think about this:

Since Gove announced that he was removing guidance on homework our school has been 'reviewing' their homework policy. We parents received a letter in September saying that they were reviewing what homework would be offered and that spelling would move from a weekly list of words to more investigative work (i.e. making words verbs or adjectives, learning rules for certain groups of words - i.e. -ough words), etc... They also announced that there would be a parent/ staff meeting one evening (which was well attended) to discuss what parents wanted from homework and what the schools views on homework were (that was nearly 2 months ago).

It's the last week of term and still absolutely nothing from the school about what their homework policy will be.

Both DDs get a maths sheet (~10 minutes work, if that) and regularly get library books to read from school. No written work (writing a review, a letter, etc...). No topical work: researching a historical period, learning more about a topic, etc... And no investigative spelling work - unforutnately.

The school is proposing a grid (5 x 5) with options for homeworks which are entirely optional for each child to do - but children would get a merit for completing 5 a month. Each month a new grid would be issued.

Am I being unreasonable (AIBU) to think this shouldn't be taking so long?

Are other teachers/ schools struggling to come up with homework policy like ours?

Are schools opting to offer less homework now that government guidance on homework is removed?

Thanks for any input - I'm really struggling not to complain - but I'm completely astounded this is so difficult to organise.

I'm not in a grammar school area so no 11+ here, and since I come from a country which has no private schools I don't really believe in that either.

When you say 'brief, targeted work' what exactly do you mean? I''ll probably agree with you when you clarify, it's just that my DDs have never had weaknesses pointed out, they've just been given next steps to work towards. I realise this sounds smug, it isn't meant to be - at some point they are bound to hit their limits somewhere so at that point I would agree that providing support at home is needed.

I think we're probably on the same page, it's just that we disagree on method - I have a very wide interpretation of what 'homework' can be, which is why I feel that primary homework is such a waste of time on the whole. It tends to be repetitive and unchallenging, and other than reading and spelling I reckon we could do away with most of it. Interventions for weaknesses need to be targeted to the individual child.

I'm not sure about the Asian approach, tbh - I'd rather the real learning happened in school and the enrichment was down to parents.

Dear all

just thought I'd update you on the result of 5 months intensive review of homework policy at our school.

No change at all for timings for each year (matches former government guidelines in terms of timing)

bulk of time per year spent on reading (no written work related to that reading)

no writing tasks whatsoever

one piece of maths homework a week

spelling lists (dropping attempt at exploring spelling patterns, origins of word or working with grammar - i.e. adding prefixes/ suffixes, changing endings, etc...)

and the piece de resistance

Yes, they've now removed multiplication tables practice from the entirety of the homework ladder (previously appeared against Y2 - Y6).

Hey ho.

I don?t believe homework has no benefit to primary school children. I used to totally trust school and didn?t do much with my dc1 in infant school days except reading at home. I regretted very much when I knew dc1 didn?t do well with ks1 sat. Only then I realised how much many parents do do with their kids at home especially those who know how the ed system works. My dc?s ks1 sat was my big wake up call. I became a lot more involved with dcs? learning since. I do about 10/15 minutes or so on each maths and eng per day with my dcs now. The improvement is obvious as from being in bottom groups for years (that I didn't know about) now dc1 is in middle top.

Isn't there a difference between school-homework and parents doing home-education alongside school? Homework is often related to what they're learning in class whereas if you home-educate alongside school you can teach them anything you like.

I believe regular small chuck of school home-work will help to provide a structure for parents to support dcs? basic learning in school. Often children will accept to do homework that set by their teachers but it is a battle to make them do the one set by parents. However I?ve reached a conclusion that state schools are just one of the public sectors. Schools and teachers all have to do their jobs and give advice only to work with the system. Just like midwifes , heath visitors, nurses or any public sector workers if they do less or more or anything different they may get criticized by different people. Over the years gradually I?ve learned that many parents do do a lot with their dcs at home even teacher parents but they don?t necessary tell anyone. Teacher parents may find it easier as they have the professional knowledge. I think it is one of those things (e.g. potty training) that parents have to find a way to do it with their dcs and teachers can only give their professional advice within the ed system whether they themselves truly believe in it or not.

At ds's school (year 4) he gets one maths, one spelling list, one science or history per week and occasionally an English homework. No reading at all but he is expected to read at home (he won't). 10/15 mins a day max and no homework on Wednesdays.

The school in the area with the best results does not set homework at all and their school day is no longer than anywhere else. Ds does lots of other things that would be viewed as 'learning' without the need for him doing actual homework. Ds is in his fifth school year of getting homework and I have yet to be convinced any of it is worthwhile. All I do now is ensure that most days ds does his homework at school so when he is home in the evenings his time is his own.

PSBD

I don't really know why you have fixated on the homework aspect of things, when actually the problem is the teaching in class and the general ethos of the school.

Are you looking to move school?

FWIW - I would be quite happy with the homework you list above. I loathe the idea of projects and so on because they take up valuable family and relaxation time.

Parents? attitude may be vary re homework and how much school should do to help parents to support their dcs subject to whether you live in a grammar school dominated area. I would be more relaxed about my dcs? school works if I know dcs will get into a reasonable secondary school without having to do the bl**dy 11+. However where I live parents are very tense and competitive over nc levels and top/middle/bottom groups things like that.

Hi Ali...

Wasn't really fixating on homework - just updating on what our school decided to do. By the way, found out last night, we parents in KS2 must provide our own books - no books will be sent home for KS2 because too many are not being returned.

I said a bit earlier above that having had comment I agree this is no longer about homework - this is just one symptom of a school sliding down hill (KS2 Sats Scores NC Level 4+ English & Maths combined: last 4 years 78% - withheld 2010 - 2011 68% and 2012 was 62%).

And yes, if various complications in our non-school parent lives settle down, we'll try and move schools.

Glad to know at least some kids are at a school where parents can send them along, not really be that bothered about what they're getting up to or whether they're doing any homework, and they'll do well. That was pretty much my experience as a child (and friends) and thus mine (and their - as concerned Aunties & Uncles) surprise. Shame it isn't everywhere.

I don't think anyone has suggested that they aren't bothered about what their children are doing at school. Of course there are always going to be some parents who couldn't give a monkeys provided their DCs are off their hands for the day, but I think they are few and far between.

this is just one symptom of a school sliding down hill (KS2 Sats Scores NC Level 4+ English & Maths combined: last 4 years 78% - withheld 2010 - 2011 68% and 2012 was 62%).

That isn't sliding down.....

Homework or home education alongside school learning whatever you call it. Many parents just don?t have the time or ideas to create activities to do with their dcs. So may be something like a list of suggestions that parents can do with their dcs at home such as showing children how to read bus timetable or radio time, pay attention to how news headlines are written or do some cooking together so children can learn how to measure weight and time etc.

Feenie:

Sorry please explain how scores in six years prior to my DDs joining school were 90%+ for combined English & Maths NC L4 and higher and now last six years have gone for combined English & Maths NC L4+

90%
85%
78%
withheld (understanding was high 60s - but not confirmed)
68%
62%

How is this not a decline in performance? or am I missing something?

I'm not being argumentative here - genuinely Feenie, if tests have got more complicated or more rigorous please let me know. I'm just presuming that the general standard for KS2 English & Maths SATs is relatively constant.

Sorry. PastBy, I misread your comment totally as 'last year's 78%",which would have been an improvement - not "last 4 years".

I would have to say that you're right, looking at those - they don't look good at all.

Thanks Feenie - for a minute their I thought I was totally misunderstanding DfE stats.

I have little knowledge of today's education and DS1 is yr 2 and disagree no matter what studies say that homework provides little.

Like any course you attend at whatever level going over notes repetitively can only improve your memory and attention.

DS1 at yr1 was doing a weekly diary of what he'd done in the week with a drawing. This made him think about what to write and a bit of art. That didnt last long teacher just didnt bother.

Reading books and maths & spellings weekly have to be enforced. Surely any other subjects that are done within term time must be partly homework.

I have issues with a few teachers we may have over the next couple of years. I am inundated with reports of lacklustre teaching and no homework policy. The parents swear that their children lost interest and fell way behind hence additional private tuition needed.

Surely a enthusiastic teacher who motivates the pupils can help the childrens creativity and what I see is pure pleasure in seeing my son going into school with a great piece of homework/project work thats going to be put on the wall.

Its such a short day at school and cant believe that they can learn so much with 30 pupils in a class taking into consideration that pupils are not all at the same level hence some maybe to struggling to receive the attention they need. Surely its a bonus to expect parents to help to strengthen what you taught in the week?

I wonder what happens in the rest of Europe then? What about private schools what are their policies?

DS1 spellings and reading was appalling and some parents seemed to have the opinion oh well he'll catch up yet many others concluded that some private tuition would be beneficial with help from home. I went with the tuition and have helped him and can conclude that there is a vast improvement - if homework was more structured to my son's ability than parents would help with this surely this can only be a positive thing?

I hate homework as a parent and as a teacher! It just causes me pain and extra hassle.
I prefer practical task - reading and following a recipe to bake (and eat) a cake. Obviously, the weighing the ingredients. Making models. Following a map whilst on a walk.
Sitting in front of yet another worksheet is just plain dull!
However, reading is essential, especially helping your child to develop a life long love for reading. I also help my own children to build IT skills through fun activities.

Blimey. I don't think that decline has anything to do with homework.