Homework
Categories: English / Mathematics / Primary / Science / Secondary

What is it?

Homework refers to tasks given to pupils by their teachers to be completed outside of class, with the normal expectation that it will be completed at home. Common homework activities may be reading or preparing for work to be done in class, or practising and completing things already taught or started. It may include extended activities to develop pupils’ inquiry skills or work such as revision for tests and exams.

How effective is it?

It is certainly the case that schools whose pupils do homework tend to be successful schools. However it is less clear that the homework is the reason why they are successful. A number of reviews and meta-analyses have looked at homework to explore this issue. There is some evidence that when homework is used as an intervention it is effective in improving students’ attainment (an effect size of 0.60). Overall the benefits are likely to be more modest.

Impact summary: + 5 months (effect size 0.36)

How secure is the evidence?

Homework has been extensively studied, both by looking at the connection (correlation) between homework and how well schools do, and by studying what happens when homework is introduced.

Strength of the evidence:

What are the costs?

There are few costs associated with homework, though there are implications for staff time.

Cost summary: £

How applicable is it?

The research strongly suggests that it is more valuable at secondary school level and much less effective for children of primary school age. There is also an optimum level of between 1-2 hours per school day (longer for older pupils), but the effects tail off as the time students spend increases. Pupils also benefit from feedback on homework and effective integration with teaching in lessons.

Further information:

The Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory in the USA has a useful summary: http://www.netc.org/focus/strategies/home.php

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