Study emphasises value of doing homework

The Guardian, p. 8, Jeevan Vasagar, 29/03/12

Spending more than two hours a night doing homework is linked to better results in English, maths and science, according to a study of 3,000 children over 15 years.

Spending any time doing homework showed benefits, but the effects were greater for students who put in two to three hours a night, according to the study conducted by academics from the Institute of Education, Oxford University and Birkbeck College and published by the Department for Education. Pam Sammons, a professor of education at Oxford University, said that time spent on homework reflected the influence of the school – whether pupils were expected to do homework – as well as children’s enjoyment of their subjects. She said: “What we’re not saying is that everyone should do large amounts, but if we could shift some of those who spend no time or half an hour into [doing] one to two hours – one of the reasons private schools’ results are better is that there’s more expectation of homework.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/mar/29/homework-linked-better-school-results