Homework and unfair advantages

There's been a lot of talk about the Cambridge primary report and it has mainly focussed on whether or not to raise the age that children in the UK should start school. What caught my eye however was this slightly more subtle comment buried in The Guardian's coverage:
Many parents surveyed argued that homework should be scrapped and researchers said it gave an unfair advantage to children from more supportive, settled homes.

Well hang on... I'm not in favour of hindering children who are already living in less than ideal conditions, but the fact is that living in supportive stable environments should be an advantage. Good parenting is SUPPOSED to help your children.

Don't get me wrong, I am obviously against children who are already living in less than ideal conditions being put at a further disadvantage, but that doesn't mean hindering those who were born luckier. We don't hit those born more intelligent over the head before each exam in order to be fairier to those with less natural wit. We don't force the better athletes to compete with their hands tied behind their backs. If homework would help children in stable homes then they deserve to recieve the best education available.

Children whose personal circumstances mean that they underperform at school should be given extra support, or measures should be taken to help relieve those difficulties, but we should be lifting those children up, not pulling everyone else down.