Do primary school children really need to do homework? Not according to a motion being debated by teachers today.
Calling for its abolition for this age group, the motion at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers conference in Liverpool states that, "homework in the primary school is a waste of children's and teachers' time, which could be spent much more profitably on effective learning both in and out of the classroom".
This would pit teachers against the government which lays down homework guidelines for schools – primaries as well as secondaries. These demand a clear policy statement, developed in consultation with the pupils, staff, parents and governors. "The foundations of effective homework practices are established early on and develop progressively across the key stages – effective homework practices can also be used to support effective transitionary links to the secondary phase," states the Department for Children Schools and Families.
It adds that parents and carers must play their part, "helping their children at home, monitoring homework, providing encouragement, and even assisting with the marking of homework".
Reading the guidelines you would have to guess that a review of the research evidence commissioned by the schools inspectorate, Ofsted, concluded that the case for homework in primary schools was "inconclusive". Fewer studies have been carried out at primary level and results have been inconsistent, said the National Foundation for Educational Research.
The study notes drily: "The suggestion that setting homework for primary-age pupils instills positive attitudes towards studying has received very little attention in the research literature." In other words, ministers are conducting an experiment with our children.
So, is homework a waste of time for younger children?
