Homework

Work set to be done outside lessons. Not compulsory in law, and schools may sanction for it.

What it is

Homework is work set by a school to be completed at home. There is no legal requirement for schools to set it and no national guidance on how much.

Where it applies

Any pupil. Each school sets its own policy, which should be published.

How it works

The evidence is that homework has a modest positive effect at secondary and a much smaller one at primary, and that quality matters far more than quantity.

Schools may impose sanctions for not completing it under their behaviour policy, which is lawful provided the policy is applied reasonably and takes account of SEND.

What you can ask for

Ask for the homework policy, including how long tasks should take. If a twenty-minute task is taking two hours, that is information the school needs.

Ask for adjustments where SEND, a medical condition or home circumstances make homework disproportionately hard — reduced volume, extra time, a homework club, or recording answers differently.

Ask for it to be set in a form that can be accessed at home. Not every family has a printer or reliable internet.

Where to get help

The school's homework policy. The Education Endowment Foundation summarises the evidence.