Homework – How Much is Enough?

Download the first draft of our homework policy here!

I’d like to share with you the first draft of our new homework policy.

You’ll find the policy looks at a range of things – including the sort of homework kids should get, an outline of how we’re ensuring deadlines are fair, and how we’re making sure that students know how long a task should take (so they don’t spend too little – or too much! – time on it)

However, there is one area of the policy that I think needs more work – an area that I think we need to agree on. That is how much homework should children get?

There is government guidance on this – you can hear about it on the video above or by reading the policy – but this is only a suggestion. Schools are permitted to make their own decision on this – and I’d like to get your say. I want us to agree on how much homework is “enough”.

That way, we can solve any problems – such as concerns about students having too much or too little homework – very quickly because the expectations on both sides will be very clear.

So let the debate commence! How much homework is too much? Either comment below or send me an e-mail.

Download the policy here and join the discussion.

g.davies@millthorpeschool.co.uk

5 thoughts on “Homework – How Much is Enough?”

Whilst I understand that teachers who wish children to complete a longer piece of homework must allow more nights for completion in order to stay within the guidelines of, for example, no more than 15 minutes per night per subject for a Year 7 child, I do not agree with teachers setting very long pieces of work over several weeks for the younger children. In my experience, they are far too immature to work “little and often” over a long time. It is either not done to the specification or, in the case of the conscientious child, it causes an enormous amount of stress and pressure at the last minute. At this stage, I feel it is more important to establish the routine of regular homework set, completed and taken in and save the big projects for the older years.

Homework set and completed via the VLE will undoubtedly become more and more the norm, however I feel the school should make an effort to include some guidelines on this in its policy. Having to use a computer to complete homework frequently causes unnecessary stress: children without access to a computer at home are rightly given the opportunity to use one at school but are de facto denied the option of doing their homework when and where they want; many families which do have a computer still encounter difficulties when more than one child (and/or parent) needs to use it at the same time – or, even worse, technical issues make it malfunction!

I think the draft homework policy is clear and helps me understand why it’s important and what’s important about how it’s done (i.e. quality and relevance not quantity).

The proposal that teachers indicate when setting a task how long it should take is helpful – as are the guidelines about what to expect per subject and how this changes as students progress through school.

Personally I think it’s important that we don’t overload students many of whom will be doing sport, music practice or other hobbies via school or independently.

I don’t have much direct experience with kids of this age (mine are a lot younger – I’m a Millthorpe governor) but it’s increasingly recognised in the workplace that working longer hours doesn’t make you more productive and giving people some freedom about how and when to complete tasks increases engagement. So I’m all for encouraging the students to have some autonomy and flexibility about how the organise their homework and not blindly assuming more work is better.

Thanks for taking time to explain it so clearly.

Dear Mr Davies,
I have read your blog, listened to your assembly, and thought about what the question ‘How much homework is enough?’. (I have also showed my parents the blog.) I am a pupil in year 9, and so according to the guidance I should do about 1 to 2 hours of homework per night. Although I know that it is important for teachers to set homework, as it is quite a big part of my education, I think that that guideline is too high. I feel that 60 to 90 minuets per night is adequate, with a little flexibility for the end of term when we have many big projects to do.

Thank you for setting out the proposed policy so clearly, I agree completely that we all need some certainity as to what the expectation should be in terms of how much hoework students should be set per day/week. I think that what is suggested is appropriate, recognising that many students have extra curricular activities that also contribute to their development-sport, music etc. I imagine that the suggested amounts are not inflexible, as presumably there will be occasions when students are set particular work that requires more time to complete and vice versa? Perhaps we have to recognise as well that some students will take more time or less time than their peers to complete the same task. What matters to me is not so much the amount of time but the purpose of the homework-if it is to reinforce learning, or to practice a skill or to develop the student’s knowledge then one side would not neccesarily fit all students or all purposes of homework, As long as the student is engaged and turns out a quality piece of work, then I would be happy; being set say 45 minutes and rushing the task just to complete it in as quick a time as possible would be counter-productive. I think that this raises the question that many parents and careres will try to find an answer to-how do I make sure that my child is engaged and works appropriately-would you plan on saying something about this in a future blog-I think it would be really helpful.

The quantity and quality of homework is dependant upon the motivation and conscienciousness of indiviual students which is difficult to put a time on. There still appears to be some homework issued for no reason other than to tick a box. I hope that it does become more relevant, with appropriate timescales set and alternatives to requiring a computer and a printer are made available for students who do not have access at home.
For a Year 7 student I beleive 45 minutes is more than adequate and would personally prefer to have more quality time enagaging in social conversation with my child rather than her feeling pressured by homework with no meaning.

Pauline Painter on January 19, 2012 at 9:40 pm said:

Whilst I understand that teachers who wish children to complete a longer piece of homework must allow more nights for completion in order to stay within the guidelines of, for example, no more than 15 minutes per night per subject for a Year 7 child, I do not agree with teachers setting very long pieces of work over several weeks for the younger children. In my experience, they are far too immature to work “little and often” over a long time. It is either not done to the specification or, in the case of the conscientious child, it causes an enormous amount of stress and pressure at the last minute. At this stage, I feel it is more important to establish the routine of regular homework set, completed and taken in and save the big projects for the older years.

Homework set and completed via the VLE will undoubtedly become more and more the norm, however I feel the school should make an effort to include some guidelines on this in its policy. Having to use a computer to complete homework frequently causes unnecessary stress: children without access to a computer at home are rightly given the opportunity to use one at school but are de facto denied the option of doing their homework when and where they want; many families which do have a computer still encounter difficulties when more than one child (and/or parent) needs to use it at the same time – or, even worse, technical issues make it malfunction!
claire antrobus on January 22, 2012 at 3:38 pm said:

I think the draft homework policy is clear and helps me understand why it’s important and what’s important about how it’s done (i.e. quality and relevance not quantity).

The proposal that teachers indicate when setting a task how long it should take is helpful – as are the guidelines about what to expect per subject and how this changes as students progress through school.

Personally I think it’s important that we don’t overload students many of whom will be doing sport, music practice or other hobbies via school or independently.

I don’t have much direct experience with kids of this age (mine are a lot younger – I’m a Millthorpe governor) but it’s increasingly recognised in the workplace that working longer hours doesn’t make you more productive and giving people some freedom about how and when to complete tasks increases engagement. So I’m all for encouraging the students to have some autonomy and flexibility about how the organise their homework and not blindly assuming more work is better.

Thanks for taking time to explain it so clearly.
Anna Hooper on January 22, 2012 at 5:07 pm said:

Dear Mr Davies,
I have read your blog, listened to your assembly, and thought about what the question ‘How much homework is enough?’. (I have also showed my parents the blog.) I am a pupil in year 9, and so according to the guidance I should do about 1 to 2 hours of homework per night. Although I know that it is important for teachers to set homework, as it is quite a big part of my education, I think that that guideline is too high. I feel that 60 to 90 minuets per night is adequate, with a little flexibility for the end of term when we have many big projects to do.
Adrian Lower on January 26, 2012 at 9:36 am said:

Thank you for setting out the proposed policy so clearly, I agree completely that we all need some certainity as to what the expectation should be in terms of how much hoework students should be set per day/week. I think that what is suggested is appropriate, recognising that many students have extra curricular activities that also contribute to their development-sport, music etc. I imagine that the suggested amounts are not inflexible, as presumably there will be occasions when students are set particular work that requires more time to complete and vice versa? Perhaps we have to recognise as well that some students will take more time or less time than their peers to complete the same task. What matters to me is not so much the amount of time but the purpose of the homework-if it is to reinforce learning, or to practice a skill or to develop the student’s knowledge then one side would not neccesarily fit all students or all purposes of homework, As long as the student is engaged and turns out a quality piece of work, then I would be happy; being set say 45 minutes and rushing the task just to complete it in as quick a time as possible would be counter-productive. I think that this raises the question that many parents and careres will try to find an answer to-how do I make sure that my child is engaged and works appropriately-would you plan on saying something about this in a future blog-I think it would be really helpful.
Kirstie Wood on January 28, 2012 at 7:46 pm said:

The quantity and quality of homework is dependant upon the motivation and conscienciousness of indiviual students which is difficult to put a time on. There still appears to be some homework issued for no reason other than to tick a box. I hope that it does become more relevant, with appropriate timescales set and alternatives to requiring a computer and a printer are made available for students who do not have access at home.
For a Year 7 student I beleive 45 minutes is more than adequate and would personally prefer to have more quality time enagaging in social conversation with my child rather than her feeling pressured by homework with no meaning.

Head@Millthorpe

thoughts from the headteacher

Homework – How Much is Enough?

5 thoughts on “Homework – How Much is Enough?”