This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-30417132
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
'Long homework hours' for UK families | 'Long homework hours' for UK families |
(about 14 hours later) | |
School pupils in the UK - and the parents who have to help them - get more homework than many other European countries, according to the OECD international think tank. | School pupils in the UK - and the parents who have to help them - get more homework than many other European countries, according to the OECD international think tank. |
The OECD, which carries out the Pisa tests of school performance, has produced a comparison of homework. | The OECD, which carries out the Pisa tests of school performance, has produced a comparison of homework. |
It suggests teenagers in the UK put in more hours than in countries such as Finland, Germany, Sweden and Austria. | It suggests teenagers in the UK put in more hours than in countries such as Finland, Germany, Sweden and Austria. |
But they are far behind pupils in Singapore and Shanghai in China. | But they are far behind pupils in Singapore and Shanghai in China. |
The most distinctive feature of the UK's homework hours is the social gap. | The most distinctive feature of the UK's homework hours is the social gap. |
Long hours, high results? | Long hours, high results? |
The OECD study suggests an international pattern for the urban middle classes to have the highest amounts of time spent on homework. | The OECD study suggests an international pattern for the urban middle classes to have the highest amounts of time spent on homework. |
But this is particularly accentuated in the UK, which has one of the widest gaps in homework hours between wealthy and disadvantaged pupils. | But this is particularly accentuated in the UK, which has one of the widest gaps in homework hours between wealthy and disadvantaged pupils. |
Andreas Schleicher, the OECD's director of education, says this is likely to widen the gap in how well pupils perform in exams as there is a link between longer homework hours and higher achievement. | Andreas Schleicher, the OECD's director of education, says this is likely to widen the gap in how well pupils perform in exams as there is a link between longer homework hours and higher achievement. |
But Finland bucks this trend, with high results and the lowest amount of homework, and there is also a very narrow social gap in Finland. | But Finland bucks this trend, with high results and the lowest amount of homework, and there is also a very narrow social gap in Finland. |
South Korea, another top performer in international tests, also has low levels of homework. | South Korea, another top performer in international tests, also has low levels of homework. |
The research, which includes regional school systems as well as countries, suggests that Shanghai has the longest homework hours, followed by Russia and Singapore. | The research, which includes regional school systems as well as countries, suggests that Shanghai has the longest homework hours, followed by Russia and Singapore. |
Italy, Ireland and Poland had high levels of homework for European countries, ahead of the UK. | Italy, Ireland and Poland had high levels of homework for European countries, ahead of the UK. |
But the UK's teenagers are studying longer at home than in countries such as Japan, Norway, Austria, Sweden, South Korea, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland, according to the research. | But the UK's teenagers are studying longer at home than in countries such as Japan, Norway, Austria, Sweden, South Korea, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland, according to the research. |
Among middle-class UK teenagers, the homework burden is disproportionately greater and above the average for both European and Asian countries, it suggests. | Among middle-class UK teenagers, the homework burden is disproportionately greater and above the average for both European and Asian countries, it suggests. |
Parental angst | Parental angst |
If late-night, last-minute homework seems familiar to parents, the number of hours might seem rather modest. The weekly average for the UK was about five hours - but, the OECD said, this was because the figures included young people who appeared to do almost no homework at all. | If late-night, last-minute homework seems familiar to parents, the number of hours might seem rather modest. The weekly average for the UK was about five hours - but, the OECD said, this was because the figures included young people who appeared to do almost no homework at all. |
The gap between the homework hours of rich and poor could be about a lack of space to study, said Mr Schleicher. It could also reflect the amount of help that parents could give. | The gap between the homework hours of rich and poor could be about a lack of space to study, said Mr Schleicher. It could also reflect the amount of help that parents could give. |
Mr Schleicher said schools could help to bridge the gap by providing a space in school where pupils could do their homework. | Mr Schleicher said schools could help to bridge the gap by providing a space in school where pupils could do their homework. |
There could also be advice for parents to help them "motivate their children to finish their homework". | There could also be advice for parents to help them "motivate their children to finish their homework". |
"The homework still has to get done, but maybe students and their parents will find it a little less troublesome," he said. | "The homework still has to get done, but maybe students and their parents will find it a little less troublesome," he said. |
Brian Lightman, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union, said homework can have a "powerful impact on attainment" and that most secondary schools offer facilities where pupils can study after school or homework clubs. | |
"It is nevertheless important that children also have spare time for themselves. There is a risk that exam pressure can lead to excessive time spent on homework thus undermining opportunities for young people to develop character, skills and qualities to be successful in later life." | |
But parents, including those with younger children, might also think about their own extra homework hours, not to mention the arguments. | |
Cathy Ranson, editor-in-chief of the Netmums parenting website, said the study challenged the "common misconception that British kids are lazy and aren't being pushed hard enough". | Cathy Ranson, editor-in-chief of the Netmums parenting website, said the study challenged the "common misconception that British kids are lazy and aren't being pushed hard enough". |
"However, what the study doesn't show is that much of that homework is being done by parents not by children. | "However, what the study doesn't show is that much of that homework is being done by parents not by children. |
"With coursework counting towards some exam grades, some parents feel this is a way to push their child's results higher, while others believe their homework help will work like home tutoring." | "With coursework counting towards some exam grades, some parents feel this is a way to push their child's results higher, while others believe their homework help will work like home tutoring." |
She said that this was such a problem in some schools that at parents' evenings they were trying to "weed out mums and dads doing the homework". | She said that this was such a problem in some schools that at parents' evenings they were trying to "weed out mums and dads doing the homework". |
"Teachers rightly point out children won't learn anything by relying on others if parents continue to do homework." |
Previous version
1
Next version