Every weekend that passes inches Chloe ever closer to her GCSE exams. Yet again this weekend was spent printing off past papers, timing herself as she worked and then marking them with the published mark schemes. I too spent time tutoring one of my students as these exams lurch towards us. Chloe swings from saying ‘I’m ready – I could do it tomorrow’ to wishing she back lower in the school. That her time in compulsory Education wasn’t nearly up.
Would you pay your teen to pass their GCSE exams?
Although Chloe is self motivated and knows what she is working for, we all need some external motivation too. Chloe agreed with her dad about a year ago a system of rewards that range from £50 for an A* down to £10 for a C grade. This approach is a little controversial with some parents. Some believe that the motivation needs to come from within. However we very much believe that external rewards have their place. In the world of work you reap what you sow. We aim for promotion , pay increases and more responsibility based on the work we have put in. Most occupations are built on a hierarchy where those what are successful are rewarded with bonuses, perks and promotions.
Therefore should we not be teaching our young people the same. The harder they work, the more successful they will be and the more rewards they will reap. This is a meritocracy, this is the workplace they will compete in. We are just starting it a little earlier.
After exams I will also be taking Chloe on a lovely holiday to Kos. It will be the opportunity to relax and switch off after the pressure of studying this year. However we are aware that the next few years are going to cost us with Chloe.
Childhood is definitely being extended and this has occurred due to the cost of living but also the extension of compulsory Education. Children now stay in education until the are 17 with many staying on longer. This stops young people being able to earn much money and requires parents to support them for longer. Chloe will want to learn to drive in January when she becomes 17 and again it is a rite of passage that gives young people more independence, buying a car after often happens. For many this is time that parents step up and help out with buying a car. One way to do this is by getting a loan to get them on the road. Other costs are university fee’s that again parents are expected to help with and that will soon be a situation we find ourselves in.
Recently we have talked about Chloe getting herself a paying job that she can fit in around her studies. While that was the normal route when her dad and myself were that age – it seems harder for young students today to find suitable opportunities to gain some life experience and earn some money. The problem for us is that Chloe plays sport and I don’t want her to give up this to work in some coffee shop for less than the minimum wage. I would rather continue to support her (in clothes, make up and spending money) and her continue with her hockey.
This again all just demonstrates how hard it is for our young people today.
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2 Responses
I had a similar system worked out with my mum when I did my GCSEs and it helped me do well (and I enjoyed treating myself afterwards too!) so I would definitely consider doing the same for Zach when the time comes in the future xx
I would pay my children to aim for better grades on their exams. I did a similar thing with my younger brother and I would like to think that he worked harder knowing that there was a financial incentive