How to help with homework when you didn't go to school in the UK

Many parents we meet in Barking, Dagenham and Ilford went to school in another country. Some tell us they feel they cannot help with homework because the system, the words and even the maths methods are different. The good news is that the most useful things a parent does are not about knowing the answers. This guide explains how the system works and gives practical steps you can start tonight.

Do I need to know the subject to help with homework?

No. Your most important job is to make homework happen, not to do it. Children do better when there is a fixed time, a quiet place and an adult who asks about it every day.

You can help by:

• Setting a routine. Same time, same place, most days. For example, after a snack and before screens.
• Asking questions instead of giving answers. "What is the question asking?" "Where in your book did you see this?" "What did the teacher show you?"
• Checking it is finished. Look at the work, even if you cannot check every answer.
• Letting them explain it to you. If your child can teach you, they understand it. If they cannot, they may need help.

If your child gets stuck, it is fine for homework to show that. Teachers use homework to see what pupils find hard.

How do UK school years and key stages work?

Schools in England are organised into year groups and "key stages". Here is how it works, based on GOV.UK's national curriculum page:

Primary school is Years 1 to 6 and secondary school starts in Year 7. GCSE courses usually run across Years 10 and 11, with the exams in the summer of Year 11. GOV.UK also says the school must give you a written report on your child's progress each year.

What do GCSE grades 9 to 1 mean?

GCSEs in England are graded from 9 (highest) to 1 (lowest). According to the Department for Education's factsheet for parents, the numbers do not match the old letter grades exactly, but some points line up:

Which grades matter most?

Grade 4 is called a "standard pass". The same factsheet says that if a pupil does not get at least a grade 4 in English and maths, they need to keep studying those subjects after 16.

Grade 5 and above in English and maths is also important. The Department for Education reports it as a headline measure for every school. In 2025, 45.4% of pupils in England got grade 5 or above in both. Many sixth forms ask for grade 5s or higher, so check the entry requirements of the sixth forms your child is interested in. Our guide to GCSE grade boundaries explains how marks turn into grades.

Why does my child's maths look so different?

Methods change between countries and over time, but the answers do not. In the UK, children are often taught to show every step, use diagrams and explain their reasoning in words. A quick method you learned at school may get the right answer but lose marks if no working is shown.

The simplest fix is to ask your child to show you the method from their exercise book or class notes. Then use the free resources below to watch a short video on the same topic together.

Which free websites can help with homework?

The two best free sites for most families are Oak National Academy and BBC Bitesize. Neither needs payment.

Oak National Academy

Oak National Academy is a free, national-curriculum resource. GOV.UK describes it as a public body sponsored by the Department for Education. Its pupil section is organised by year group from Year 1 to Year 11, so your child can pick their year and subject and find the lesson that matches their homework.

BBC Bitesize

BBC Bitesize offers free videos, step-by-step guides and quizzes from key stage 1 to GCSE. Use the KS3 section for Years 7 to 9 and the GCSE section for Years 10 and 11. The Bitesize Parenting pages have advice written for parents.

Other free help

• Your child's school. Many schools run homework clubs and use online platforms where you can see what was set.
• Your local library. Libraries in Barking & Dagenham offer free wi-fi and computers. See our guide to free revision help in Barking.
• Exam board websites. From Year 10, past papers from AQA, Pearson Edexcel and OCR are useful practice.

What if English is not my first language?

You can still help a great deal. Talk about school in the language you are most comfortable in. Ask your child what they learned, what was hard and what they are proud of. Reading together in any language builds vocabulary and concentration.

When you speak to the school, it is fine to ask for things to be explained simply, or to bring someone who can help translate. Ask the teacher, "What is my child finding hard?" and "What can we do at home?" These two questions often give the most useful answers.

When should I get extra help?

Get help when the same problem keeps coming back. Signs include homework taking much longer than it should, your child saying "I don't get it" in the same subject for weeks, or low marks on school tests and reports.

Talk to the school first. If the gap is still there, a tutor can find exactly which topics are missing and fill them. Starting early, in Year 7 or 8, is much easier than trying to catch up in Year 11.

How LCB can help

At LCB Tutors we teach Maths, Science and English in small groups of 3 to 5, in Barking or live online. Our tutors teach to your child's exam board and explain methods the way UK schools expect. You get a monthly progress report, so you can follow how your child is doing even if the subject is new to you.

Female tutors are available on request, and prayer times are respected. GCSE and KS3 plans start at £52 a month. See our GCSE tutoring page, or book a free assessment and we will show you exactly where your child is and what to do next.