School Homework and the 11+

[newbucksdad]

Our DS's main challenge at the moment is combining his school homework (which seems to have increased this year) with practice for next month's 11+. We were thinking about making an issue of this with the school but have just about convinced ourselves it is all good brain activity and useful training for the 11+, even if slighly less direct. Anyone have any similar experience?

[scary mum]

My DS isn't getting much homework yet this term, I don't know if that is because the school are deliberately holding back or if they just haven't got going yet. On the other hand DS does often forget to bring work home.... Mind you, neither are we doing a huge amount of 11plus preparation - I don't want to stress him, as he hates it

[crunchie]

Yes we are in the same situation. Lots of homework and the 11+. How we deal with this is by doing the IPS short tests and some Walsh Vocabulary in the week. Then 1 or 2 whole practise papers at the weekend.

[Morning Glory]

When my DS was taking the 11+ 2 years ago the school gave them loads of homework in the weeks running up to it. My DD is now taking the 11+ in a few weeks (same school, same teachers) and has had hardly any. Maybe they had a rethink or lots of complaints????

[Fran17]

My middle son's primary school didn't prepare the children for the 11+ and the homework he was given was, quite frankly, a waste of time and would not have helped him in his preparations for the exam in any way. He wasn't given a great deal, but what he did get I actually did for him and he just copied it up. I wanted to take the pressure off so he could just concentrate on his 11+ work.

My youngest's school did prepare them for 11+ and he did have a lot so he did it all himself. If you are certain that particular aspects of his homework will not assist him in passing the 11+ maybe you could help him with them to take the pressure off. We didn't want ours to be overloaded with work at such a late stage.

[Guest55]

Remember not to complain ... the LA say 'no further prep is needed beyond the familiarisation' so you won't get any sympathy.

Schools have to sign a declaration that they do not do more prep than is laid down in the HT booklet.

[hedwigsmum]

My son is getting lots of homework. If it will help with 11+ I'm getting him to do it. Otherwise I'm doing it. Got a "good" last week!!

[crunchie]

In my view I would not approach the school on this issue. This could backfire especially if you need to go to appeal due to non qualification. The headteacher might be of the opinion that if a child cannot keep up with the 11+ and school homework, are they suitable for Grammar School? Remember the headteacher of your current school will write a recommendation for a selection appeal.

[ian35mm]

Personally, I think it's outrageous that parents are doing their children's homework. Not only does it totally miss the point of the exercise, it encourages children to think that cheating (and that is exactly what it is), is not only acceptable, but encouraged by their parents.

[Sally-Anne]

Personally, I think it's outrageous that parents are doing their children's homework. Not only does it totally miss the point of the exercise, it encourages children to think that cheating (and that is exactly what it is), is not only acceptable, but encouraged by their parents.

Oh, come on Ian - get off your high horse! If the school is still setting relentless amounts of homework just before the 11+ I don't think anyone would blame a parent for stepping in and helping/taking it on for a few days. Some schools that are completely unsupportive of the 11+ have even been known to increase the amount of homework before the tests just to make a political point about the "kids who will cope at GS".

On the wider point of it being "outrageous" that parents are doing their children's homework, I have lost count of the occasions when my children have been set work that is either ridiculously difficult or excessively time-consuming and I had to finish it off. Then there are the days when there just wasn't enough time to get the homework done, but Mr V. V. Strict will give a detention if it isn't handed in the next day, no excuses ...

It is hardly a culture of cheating, it's just a necessity at times.