Do most of people promise their children cash payments in exchange for good GCSE grades?

[Theodoraalways]

My son has been coming home from school recently talking about his friends getting £100 payment for each grade 9 in their upcoming GCSE….not only that, he has been harassing me relentlessly about me paying him, too. The only response I get from him when asking why should anyone pay their child to do well in school at any time is that “everyone does it!” and so should I!
He has predicted 9’s in all his 10 GCSE subjects and has been found to be exceptionally talented in all his subjects by his teachers since he started secondary grammar school. That is what makes it even more shocking for me that someone so highly intelligent (he has chosen to test his IQ through school in Year 8 and the result was 162) could be putting monetary value to his efforts in school.
He is our only child and has been loved and looked after unlike many unfortunate children I read about. We do go on holiday every summer to Italy or Greece for 5-6 weeks, stay in luxury accommodation (villa or apartment), he has several hobbies outside school which we pay for, we always bought him masses of presents for his birthdays and Christmas, lots of books throughout the year, we try to install decent human values into him, we saved nicely for him into his Child Trust Fund account, he has never wanted for anything - we bought him most of the things he asked for over the years….
Am I wrong in thinking that no child should be promised money in order to succeed in school? I cry when I read some young people saying to their parents they do not wish any money for their grades, it is their achievement that motivates them…Am I wrong in thinking we should be celebrating his achievements by buying him a present and going out for a meal, rather than be putting a price for his grades in advance?

I won't be offering my daughter cash for grades. She is lucky enough to be clever and she works hard and the grades are just the passport to the next step. I have always made it very clear to her that I don't care about the numbers, the important thing is if she has done her best. I know she'll do revision and I know she will try her hardest and that is all that matters. I will definitely treat her, but not for grades - we have tickets for a Pulp concert just after her exams finish. It will be a reward for all the hard work. And I might very well give her some money to spend on herself over the summer. I would like her to treat herself when she finally gets a good rest.

@dcbc1234 no, that's literally never occurred to me

The difference is that we are a family, not a business, and my role is to try to raise decent, well rounded people, with a good work ethic, not to generate profit.

I have children of differing academic abilities. I believe each should be inspired and motivated to work hard and do their best. Should DS1- super bright and finds school easy- be rewarded higher than his sister who works incredibly hard, because good grades come easier to him?

No. But obviously much praise for good grades.

I dunno… I presume you don’t work for nothing? Maybe it motivates the kids?

No you don't work for nothing. You work for good grades that open doors.

Umm no chance!

I did take her into town and buy her a pretty piece of jewellery she liked on results day though (cost around £40.)

We did, but not nearly so much as that. More £10 for an A. It's motivating for some DC. Had we not, I would have bought a gift.

Not so much school grades, but my parents gave me money for practising my musical instruments (I’m now a music teacher!). I always loved music, so the intrinsic motivation was there, but sometimes I just needed an extra push.

I don’t see a problem with paying students for effort or grades. That’s how the world works. We get paid for working/achieving goals etc. Most people wouldn’t work if they didn’t earn a salary. I think it’s a good lesson for teens to learn.

You are indeed one very lucky parent!

No, and none of my children have ever mentioned it. They're far from hard done by - they've all got expensive hobbies etc which we have always supported - but it wouldn't occur to me to financially reward exam results. We went out to their choice of restaurants (or during Covid had their favourite meals at home) to celebrate their results but that's all. The grades are the rewards for the work.

£10 for each 9 here

Predicted 7/8 in most so just an incentive for him to push a bit harder

To me there is a difference between an unexpected cash reward (fine) and an upfront bonus scheme.

That said, if offering DD £500 for passing her maths would help her pass, then I'd probably do it. But it won't, it would just add pressure.

We have performance related pay at work. Is it really any different? If it works, does it matter

Well - yes. An employer offers performance related pay because it's in their interests if their employees work harder - they make more money, their company is more successful etc. They are not offering money because they simply see it as a "good thing" for their employees to work harder.

A child's grades benefit no one but themselves.

It's unusual for exceptionally intelligent children to be so motivated by money but I expect he will go far in his career!

My son saidots of people at his school are doing the £100 per a 9 thing. I think most of his friends wont get os so maybe uts a safe bet from the parents.

I said Id give him pocket money so he could revise hard over easter etc and not need to get a job until after his gcses finished but he had to be revising to get the pocket money.

I was financially rewarded for my O Level results so it's hardly a new thing.

Hasn't crossed my mind to do this! Not a thing for my DD or DSC either.
I don't know anyone doing this. They might be, but I haven't heard it mentioned.

No. The incentive to do well is for themselves. They understand that the grades benefit them anyway.
I have never paid them/forced them to do homework over the years so why do this?
I just "expect them to do their best" (an annoying phrase my parents used that works as it makes you know its all down to your effort).

I've offered this to DD as an extra incentive to work hard in her exams. She's bright, she should do well but her motivation is waning, which is perfectly normal after the pressure of schooling for 12 years. We've not spent on private schooling or extra tutoring, she's performed well throughout school that I feel she deserves rewarding. To me it's akin to a bonus at work for a special project but one that will benefit her whole life.

It's very well claiming that learning and achievement should be its own reward, yes to an extent that is true. But have you met a 15/16 Yr old? Normally they are not happy to be learning, even the clever ones. If money as a carrot helps, then great.

There is lots and lots of evidence that extrinsic motivation (eg money rewards) reduced intrinsic motivation (doing it for yourself). So no, I won't be offering cash for grades.

I asked DS about this - he's doing his GCSEs this year. He's never heard any of his friends getting paid/get a bonus to do well. Hopefully I've not opened the flood gates. Probably not, DS wants to work in a branch of research science that isn't the best paid - so cash isn't a huge motivator for him at the moment anyway. We'll get him something nice but it won't be an incentive, he'll get it as a surprise when his GCSEs are over.

This! I'm very keen on the kids understanding that doing well earns it's own rewards, in that it opens up opportunities.

The Ex-husband is paying Dd1, but it's already causing issues. He's tried to get out of it by saying she's getting an expensive birthday present, he's tried to change when he pays it. It's definitely not working as a motivator.

No, not American. Friends had this in the 80s for O levels.

There is lots and lots of evidence that extrinsic motivation (eg money rewards) reduced intrinsic motivation (doing it for yourself)

Based on my own experience I believe this!