Top grammar school slashes homework burden because pupils find it 'depressing'

In a reform that has divided parents, students at Tiffin School, in Kingston-upon-Thames are given just one 40-minute assignment per night instead of three or four hours' worth.

They are also urged to spend a further 20 minutes engaged independently in an activity linked to education such as reading a book, revising, playing sport, playing a musical instrument or watching a nature documentary.

Students at Tiffin School, in Kingston-upon-Thames are given just one 40-minute assignment per night instead of three or four hours' worth (picture posed by models)

Headmaster Sean Heslop said large amounts of homework ended up becoming "mechanical" and "repetitive".

The school was now going for "quality not quantity", with students concentrating on a single subject per night.

His deputy, Gary James, said too much homework could be "depressing" and put children off learning.

"We had boys doing three or four hours a night at the expense of sports, music practice or simply having fun.

"Something's not right when a boy can't sit down and watch a nature documentary on TV because he's too busy doing maths.

"Ultimately I don't think we should set homework at all."

But while the change has been mainly welcomed by Tiffin parents, some would have preferred the traditional arrangements to continue.

The policy, which applies to boys aged 11 to 16, contradicts Government homework guidelines championed by former Education Secretary David Blunkett in 1998.

At secondary level, 11 to 13-year-olds should complete 45 to 90 minutes every night, 13 to 14-year-olds one to two hours and 14 to 16-year-olds 1.5 to 2.5 hours.

The guidelines are "intended to give a clear idea of what is reasonable to expect at different ages" but teachers are not forced to set homework.

Some schools, mainly primaries, have experimented with abandoning homework entirely in favour of activities completed with parents such as trips to the museum but the trend is limited to a handful.

Many heads acknowledge parents expect homework to be set.

Mr Heslop said the issue had been among the most "divisive" changes the school had implemented and it was unlikely to abandon homework entirely.

"Self-discipline and having to sit down and do something yourself is a great skill which you are going to need later in life," he said.

"Certainly the change has been welcomed by the significant majority of parents. Some think is absolutely wonderful because it means their sons are less pressurised and they have time to have a conversation at home.

"But there are some who would still prefer we are spending four hours a night on homework."

He said he was unconcerned the school was not following the Government's homework guidelines, saying the figures appeared to have been "plucked out of the air".

"It is important for schools to do their own thing. This is what is right for us," he said.

"But a discussion is going on about homework finally."

The revelation of the new homework policy, which has been phased in since September last year, follows a call by a teachers' union for an end to homework in primary school and strict limits at secondary.

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers criticised the "pressure" homework puts children under, with general secretary Dr Mary Bousted saying: "Everyone just accepts that homework has got to be done.

"I think a lot of homework is a waste of time. The teacher has got to set it, so what gets set is 'busy' homework.

"It puts a huge amount of stress, particularly on disadvantaged children from disadvantaged homes."