A UK mother and former primary school teacher is urging schools to abolish homework, claiming it damages children's mental health and stifles a love of learning.
Abi Clarke, a 34-year-old parenting coach from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, has taken a firm stand against compulsory homework for her two children. The mum-of-two, who runs the mentoring service SparkGuideGrow, labels homework as "detrimental", particularly for neurodivergent youngsters, and insists schools have no legal power to enforce it.
The Case Against Compulsory Homework
Abi, whose eight-year-old daughter Emily may have dyslexia and ADHD, refuses to force her to complete reading tasks set by teachers. She explained from her Suffolk home: "She has flip flopped between really loving reading and finding it difficult. I've told the school I won't force her to do it if it's detrimental."
"If you're forcing kids to do it at home when they're tired and want to relax," she continued, "you're just going to stop them developing a lifelong love of learning." Abi described homework as a "tick-box exercise" that even most teachers dislike.
Home for Relaxation, Not Work
While homework is not a legal requirement in the UK, many schools assign tasks for completion outside classroom hours. Abi, who is also mother to two-year-old Harry, believes the practice should be scrapped entirely.
"I would love to see it abolished," she stated emphatically. "Why are we giving children homework? I know loads of jobs will require people to work at home but when we're trying to move towards a more mindful society, we need to say work is work and home is home."
She acknowledges that some families enjoy homework, but maintains it causes significant stress and anxiety, especially in households with neurodivergent children.
The Neurodivergent Perspective and Parental Advocacy
Abi provided insight into how homework affects neurodivergent children specifically. "A lot of children with neurodivergence will see a rule as being really black and white," she explained. "They think 'right, I have to do this' and they put it so much upon themselves but at home they need connection and regulation of their nervous system."
This pressure can trigger serious mental health difficulties, she warned. "Kids with neurodivergence will tell themselves that they are rubbish. There's so much negative self talk. If there's a blank rule for something, it's almost an ableist rule. It can really have a bad effect on their mental health."
Addressing the academic argument for homework, Abi referenced studies showing it provides a five-month improvement in academic ability for typically able children. However, she countered: "That doesn't take into account high achievers or those who are not achieving at the typical standard. My opinion is that five months is not enough of a gain to offset what a child could achieve if they had a good family life."
She confirmed that families of primary school pupils are already entitled to opt out of homework since it's not enforceable by law. However, she warned that schools might use other penalties, like keeping children in during break times.
Her advice to parents is clear: "I'd encourage parents to ask for the policies and arm themselves with all the evidence. You should know that you are the advocate for your child."
She urged parents to "ask for the meetings and the paper trail for what's going on" and gain confidence in challenging school policies, noting that many parents approach the issue with their own school trauma.
