School Gate: Why too much homework doesn't work

The computer crash has overtaken the family dog’s appetite to become one of the most popular excuses for pupils who have not done their homework, according to a survey of teachers.

“My dog ate it,” is no longer the default excuse for pupils who now prefer to blame computer failures, printer malfunctions or internet disturbance.

Teachers in British schools hear 6.5 million homework excuses every week on average, and 1.3 million of those – up 30 per cent in the past year – relate to the failure of technology, according to the survey of 1,000 British teachers.

The five most popular technology-based explanations for not doing homework, according to the survey conducted by Pixmania.com, were: “My computer crashed and I lost it”; “I finished my homework but then I deleted it by accident”; “I could not print it out”; “My internet was down so I could not do any research”; and “I lost my laptop”.

Other inventive justifications include: “My dad’s computer was hacked by the Russians and they stole my homework”; “A burglar stole my printed-out homework along with the computer”; and “The PC exploded when our dog went to the toilet on it”.

Sixty-eight per cent of pupils now submit school work typed on a computer – making it far easier to blame technological faults for their tardiness.

Sue Cooke, assistant headteacher at Wallington County Grammar School, southwest London, said: “Initially I think teachers were more likely to believe technology-related excuses, but we are definitely wising up.

“We are having to become more tech-savvy so that we are able to offer advice to assist those who are genuinely having problems with their computer.”

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