A York school has been singled out for praise by Education Secretary David Blunkett - for the way it deals with homework.

Huntington School was named by Mr Blunkett as an example of good practice when he was announcing new Government plans for spending £220 million on homework and study support centres across the country.

The new centres will provide children with quiet places to do homework as well as offering sports and arts activities and access to computers.

Mr Blunkett said: "Good schools have always had clear, well thought-out arrangements for homework.

"For example Huntington Secondary School in York uses its homework programme to develop the skills of independent learning in a systematic way."

Mr Blunkett also published guidelines aimed at giving parents a clear idea of what it was reasonable to expect at different ages and announced the introduction of home-school agreements, which would spell out what each could expect from each other.

Sheila Howarth, head of pastoral care at Huntington, said the school already had home-school agreements which the school, a parent and the child each signed before they started at school.

"Our homework programme involves each pupil having a student planner, like most schools.

"We check what's supposed to be happening in a very thorough way."

She said the planners, where children's homework was noted down, were checked daily by form tutors, and were signed by the tutor and by a parent each week.

There were spaces each week for examples of positive and negative behaviour by any of the teaching staff.

Miss Howarth said the homework programme had been studied by a Government inspector who had visited the school and spoken to Year Eight pupils.

"If a pupil does have genuine problems completing homework at home because the circumstances at home don't lend themselves to completing it, then facilities are provided at school for children to do it before they go home."

Mr Blunkett said: "Homework is an essential part of every child's education. It is right that parents should have a clear idea of what it is reasonable to expect for their children so that where no regular homework is given, they can discuss this with teachers.

"Homework is one of many areas where partnership between parents and schools is essential. Homework does more than just reinforce what goes on in schools during the day, it also helps develop important skills like independent learning and enquiry, as well as self-discipline."

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