Are we really ready to say farewell to homework?

If a child has grasped a topic, then there is little benefit in them flying through a worksheet at home. If a child is struggling with a topic, then it is unfair to expect them and the adult at home to torment each other trying to learn it together.

As a headteacher, I want every child in my school to leave at the end of Year 6 having been pushed to become the best version of themselves and achieved to the highest of their ability.

There is no hard-and-fast rule as to how to make this happen, but, by and large, it is about providing the right learning environment at school; encouraging them to develop their academic and social skills both in and out of school and giving them the confidence to explore where their strengths lie.

Time is precious, and with an abundance of extracurricular activities on offer, it is easy for parents to feel overwhelmed. Family time is an important part of a child’s development, as are sporting and leisure activities and healthy balanced meals. Sometimes, homework that is set just for the sake of setting homework can get in the way of this, or add unnecessary pressure.

Learning outside the school setting is still important. Reading is proven to be extremely beneficial for increased academic attainment. Research shows that children who read widely for pleasure experience greater success at all levels of education. It also helps keep children off screens and can be a great way to wind the day down before bed.

Likewise, spelling proficiency is crucial for overall literacy. Consistent practice can significantly improve spelling accuracy. The learning of weekly spellings at home is something that can be done around other commitments.

There are online learning tools that can be used to reinforce learning in fun and engaging ways. The benefits are that children and parents can choose how much they engage with them, while teachers can steer their classes to tasks that are linked to the topics they are focusing on.

Often children learn best when they don’t even realise they are being taught or don’t feel like they are being forced to work. Home learning should harness this. Effective home learning should therefore be encouraging children to undertake interactive exercises, games and activities that reinforce mathematical concepts and language skills in an engaging way, without them realising they are doing homework.

No doubt, some people will say the scrapping of traditional homework is another example of teachers trying to make life easy for themselves by removing the need for constant marking. The reality, though, is that every industry evolves and new ways of thinking emerge. Just because “it never did us any harm”, doesn’t mean there isn’t a better way of doing it.

Is it time to embrace a new approach to home learning? Absolutely yes. I believe our children will be all the better for it.

Hannah Martin is headof Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School