Homework menu ideas

An Ofsted inspector once told me that they’d stopped being critical of schools about parental attitudes to homework, because invariably half of parents thought the school set too little and the other half set too much, so schools couldn’t win (no change there, then). Some parents think homework must be a ‘good thing’, without being quite sure why.

Homework – a compound word that resonates down the chalk dust swirling corridors of all our school days. Home: warmth, security, a place to relax. Work: well, fill this one in yourself, why don’t you?

When homework has a positive impact. Research indicates, however, that the value of homework in developing academic understanding is questionable at best. This may be down to the nature and the quality of the homework set and also down to the nature and quality of the finished product.

Level the playing field. Set up a homework club…. For those children who don’t have access to books, internet, paper, pencils, scissors, glue at home, you could start a homework club and give those attending use of the school’s ICT facilities.