Bribing children to get good GCSE grades -- why would anyone do this?

[frogs]

I read this in the Sunday Times and it's still niggling away at me.

Why would these parents think it's a good idea to pay their children per GCSE grade A/A*? Surely if by the age of 15 the child hasn't worked out that it's in his/her own interest to get the best grades they are capable of, then something has gone a bit wrong? And if they do work hard and it all goes hideously wrong for some reason, then they're going to need serious tea and sympathy, not a cut in allowance.

People in London do this for 11+ seelctive secondary entry as well, which is possibly even worse -- one of dd1's acquaintainces from swimming was promised £100 if she got into school A or £50 if she got into school B.

Is it just me, or is this barking?

christ!
i just got knowing my 'rents would be very proud of me if i did well and also the small fact that without gcse grades i wouldnt get very far.
those are the only incentives i got and that was perfectly acceptable to me!
that motivated me enough to get good grades and i hope that will motivate my kids too when the time comes.

My dad bribed me one year on my exam results, he said if I got over 70% in every exam I could spend the summer in the Seychelles. I got 68% in Physics and was devastated, I phoned and told him and he asked what I got in Latin, I said 96%, he said "well we'll take a few percent off that and stick it onto your Physics result and you can still go". He could never really use bribery again, coz I knew he wouldn't stick to his guns.

My daughter is going to boarding school for sixth form. What is an appropriate monthly allowance and how can I keep control of 'extras'?