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Government scraps homework rules for English schools

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Homework - are the rules changing?

Official homework guidelines set by the government for English schools have been scrapped.

Michael Gove, the man in charge of Education, says head teachers can decide how much homework to set or whether to set any at all.

It's after some parents complained that too much homework meant kids didn't have enough time to play, do sports or be with their family.

Before, five- to seven-year-olds were expected to do an hour a week, gradually increasing to 2.5 hours each night for pupils aged between 14 and 16.

Now, head teachers will be able to say how much homework their pupils should do.

We asked what you thought and loads of you let us know!

Your Comments:

"I think that we don't get too much homework, sometimes maybe not enough, at least at my school. I think that the government should decide how much homework we get, not our head teachers, because then some kids may get more homework than others, which is unfair."

Mikaela, 12, West Midlands, England

"I get lots of homework and it stops me from going out with my mates and family! I think it is right to have some homework, but I think schools across the country have gone a bit over the top! Even my cousin who is 3 years-old gets homework! That is ridiculous!"

Charlotte, 12, London, England

"We get enough homework. I'm in year 6 and I think that homework helps you learn more and revise what you've learnt."

Chloe, 10, Preston, England

"I think getting homework is good because it helps you revise, but sometimes we are expected to hand it in 2 days after, on each subject, which is stressful. They should give us a whole week to do our homework."

Warda, 13, London, England

"I'm in year 7 and I get homework nearly every day, my planner is completely full!"

Sohpie, 11, Staffordshire, England

"I think it is fair because people in primary school need to get ready for secondary school!"

Holly, 10, Ballymena, Northern Ireland

"I think that my school gets home work just right for me, my parents give me extra homework."

Ella, 8, Swindon, England

"I started secondary school in September and the amount of homework I get now compared to primary school is awful! In Primary school I used to just get spellings, times tables, maybe a short essay or a maths sheet, but now I'm getting homework almost every day. I think it is unfair for year sevens like me to put up with so much homework."

Maisie, 12, Cambridgeshire, England

"I have too much homework and I can't play with my friends if it takes too long! I have loads tonight and it's my birthday tomorrow."

Olivia, 11, Kent, England

"I think it takes over your life, especially in secondary school! I see my friend's brothers in their room for hours!"

Sarah, 9, Lincolnshire, England

"I think we do get too much homework. I'm studying when I get in and into the night until 11pm. Some teachers give us homework that we haven't even been doing in lessons. If teachers can't teach us in class, they shouldn't give us homework until they have taught it to us."

Becky, 13, Nork Yorkshire, England

"Getting more homework means that in the future you can easily get a job."

Shihuai, 14, Hazlemere, England

"I am in year 9 and I haven't had any homework for months! This may sound weird but I actually want some homework to do!"

Beth, 14, Stoke, England

"Our homework is tough, but it's there to inform teachers about your understanding of the topic. If the head teacher decides, I think it'll be less harsh."

Phillipa, 13, Harlow, England

"I don't think I get too much homework, but what I don't like is when homework is set one day and has to be in the next. I don't mind if I have the weekend to do my homework. I think infants shouldn't get homework, juniors should get two pieces a week, and then secondary school children should get 4/5 pieces a week."

Amy, 13, England

"I enjoy homework, especially writing, but it is sometimes very hard to fit it in with my after school activities - swimming, dancing and sports."

Charlie, 7, Edinburgh, Scotland

"Two and a half hours of homework each night for 14-16 year-olds? If that were the case where I live, I'd hardly have time for dinner!"

Elena, 13, La Hulpe, Belgium

"I get too much homework, I don't get to see my parents or play out with my friends anymore."

Emily, 12, London, England

"When I get too much homework I miss out on fun things - last week my family went to my cousin's house for her birthday and I couldn't go!"

Sayful, 12, London, England

"I bet teachers hated homework when they were little, but they give it to us like we don't have a life."

Isabel, 13, Cumbria, England

"I don't think I get too much homework, however, if I've had a bad day at school then I just want to relax, but the teacher wants us to do homework no matter how we feel! All the people down in England should feel lucky."

Chloe, 11, Falkirk, Scotland

"I'm in Year 5 and I get a reasonable amount of homework. We have to hand in our homework every Monday, the easiest homework is given out first so that we get a week to do it, but the hardest is given out on Friday giving us only 3 days to do it!"

Ethan, 10, Hertfordshire, England

"My school give me 15 pieces of homework a night and say that we have to finish it in about 2 minutes! School is not fair."

Carl, 10, West Midlands, England

"I think we get too much homework at our school, sometimes we have to complete a whole maths/English book, which has 79 pages. We also have SATs homework, spelling and reading books. It's just too much for us!"

Kyle, 10, West Midlands, England

"We get too much homework which is expected to be handed in the next day. I think that this puts us under a lot of pressure and can be stressful."

Shanzii, 12, London, England

"I think we get too much homework and that we don't get enough time to do it."

Tia, 12, West Midlands, England

"I hate homework, school is for learning, home is for chilling and playing. Year 6 have to do lots of tests anyway so I don't think we should have homework."

Alexia, 10, Manchester, England

"I hate homework, it gives you a headache and since I'm in Year 6 I have to do lots of test papers anyway!"

Arisha, 11, Manchester, England

"I think that we do get too much homework, I don't get enough time to play."

Bethany, 12, Doncaster, England

"There is no such thing as too much or too little homework, it all depends on the person. I get 4-6 pieces of homework a week, which to some people might be loads, but for me it is an OK amount. I think there should be a limit on what the teachers give you at different ages. When I moved into Year 7 it took me a while to adjust to the amount of homework."

Amelia, 12, Hampshire, England

"We get too much homework, it's all about what we do in class so it's too easy anyway."

Rory, 12, West Midlands, England