Teachers to vote on scrapping homework

Britain's youngest pupils should no longer be forced to do homework because it puts them under too much pressure and makes them unhappy, teachers have said.

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) will debate a motion at its annual conference next week calling for homework to be cut back for teenagers and abolished altogether for primary school children.

The union also recommends that a Royal Commission should be set up to examine why so many children are anxious and unhappy at school.

ATL general secretary Mary Bousted said: "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.

And Ms Bousted argues that much compulsory homework "puts a huge amount of stress, particularly on disadvantaged children from disadvantaged homes". She adds they can "get into trouble" because parents cannot help them when they struggle with their homework.

"For these poorer children, who do not have books, computers and well-educated parents to help, homework can lead them to resent school," she said.

The union's motion will be discussed at the conference in Torquay.

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