1 Secondary pupils benefit but its effects on primary pupils are less clear.
2 Study which prepares for future work or revises previous topics seems to be most beneficial.
3 As well as promoting academic learning it develops generic skills and fosters home-school links and family communication.
4 Teachers tend to see homework as a means of ensuring that the curriculum is covered.
5 Teacher expectations can be a decisive factor in motivating pupils to do homework.
6 It is often set at the end of a lesson when there is little time for clarification and questions.
7 Feedback is important but more research is needed on the most effective forms.
8 Girls spend more time on homework than boys do.
9 Research on homework can only be understood within its historical and cultural context 10 Perceptions of the importance of homework are highly influenced by economic, political, social and educational factors.
This edited list is taken from “What do we know about homework? A literature review”, by Susan Hallam and Richard Cowan, Institute of Education, University of London
