Key Stage 3 Homework

[workingmumnhs]

Just attending my first parents evening for my SD. Found out she is not doing to well. Getting D's, E's and F's in major subjects. When her mother showed us the report card she didn't seem to bothered by the grades. She said of the F in Maths " Oh she has never been very good at maths." As we dropped her off at home after the meeting SD mentioned some French homework she needed to do for the morning and her mother said. "Oh you are not doing that now. You're going to bed."
This Weekend when SD was at our house I asked her do do some maths on the BBC Bitesize site. Found that she wasn't doing that badly if someone explained the problems to her and helped her work it out.
Discussed concerns with DH he said that her mother didn't finish school and probably couldn't help her with the homework as she didn't know how to do it herself,(not a bitchy comment, probabaly true.)
How do I encourage SD to do her homework and get her mother to help her. SD and her mother live a good twenty minute drive away from us and dropping her off after school to do her homework here and picking her up again would not be practical.
SD is quite clever but I fear that she will not be using her full potential.
I went to a grammar school and my own mother pushed me to do well. Am I just over reacting and being to pushy.
Advice please.

Hi, I don't think you are over reacting, I think it is fantastic that you are so concerned about your SD's grades and her future. It is so important in this day and age that kids do well at school and I think your SD is in a difficult position as she is not being helped at home. There are so many great websites now like BBC Bitesize and I think children find it easier to learn from the internet. I do think her being dropped off at yours after school would seem a good idea albeit not that practical for you. Is there any way that BM could drop her off and DH drop her back or vice versa, or perhaps take it in turns? I know it's not ideal, but it would appear that she has the potential to do better at yours and surely her mum must see that as a benefit even if she didnt finish school herself? Well done for being so understanding and helpful. You sound like a great Stepmum and you are doing a wonderful job!