Philip Morant School and College have taken their own approach to help teachers overcome the current workload crisis by banning traditional homework.  
In a letter the secondary school has told pupils and parents that they will no longer set homework and will instead select their own "appropriate" tasks through an online portal.  The scheme is optional, there are no limits to the number of tasks pupils can complete and there are rewards for completed tasks.   The school has called the new approach 'Prove It+' at Key Stage 3 & 4 and Independent Study Tasks at Stage 5.  

Principal Catherine Hutley believes by scrapping homework it will allow teachers and staff to make better use of their time to plan better lessons to ensure the individual needs of each pupil is met. Currently, they do not have the time to mark and prepare lessons or give each child the attention they need. Ms Hutley accepted the move was controversial but was “genuinely excited” about the innovative approach and is convinced students who are aged between 11 and 18 will benefit.  

Catherine Hutley, Principal of Philip Morant School and College in Colchester has replaced traditional homework with an out-of-hours task based online portal so staff can spend more time planning lessons.[/caption]   She said: “The job of a teacher is impossible. There are not enough hours in the day for a teacher to teach, set homework, mark homework, and plan their lessons.” “It is a move away from a more traditional approach but we would not do anything which would hinder the progress of our children.”
“We have the most dedicated and committed staff you could possibly ask for. They are working every hour God sends but planning lessons can fall by the wayside.”
“We want it to be the number one priority so teachers can plan for students’ individual needs and keep on top of their progress on a daily basis.” Too often homework was made up of finishing curriculum work which had not been completed in class. This new approach would stop children who do not complete their homework from falling behind. Ms Hutley said the move away from traditional homework had been discussed for a year and parents have been involved in a consultation period. 1,650 pupils attend the Ofsted rated 'good' school and has already removed academic banding and the use of mobile phones at school.

The change is not the first to happen, just last year the independent boarding school Cheltenham Ladies' College announced plans to ditch homework in response to an 'epidemic' of mental health problems.

In 2013 Jane Austen College, in Norwich, said pupils would be expected to complete all their work during timetabled hours, and extended the school day to 5pm.

Meanwhile over in and instead asked to spend more time at home with their families. Ms Hutley added: “If, for any reason, we start to see this new approach to homework is having a negative impact on students’ progress, we will do something about it.” “But I do not believe that will happen.”

Could this be the start of something widespread?