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Secondary education

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Original poster

GCSE"s - what is the right reward / pressie / amount of cash for success??

52 replies

alli1968 · 19/08/2015 10:57

I genuinely don't know what parents are doing for this - i don't get to meet up with other parents so would appreciate any pointers??

BTW anyone else nervous??

OP posts:
CQ · 19/08/2015 18:34

Taking DS out for posh nosh tomorrow night at a restaurant he's never been too as we've always told him it's too good for kids Grin

CQ · 19/08/2015 18:34

been to - sigh. Many years since my English language O-level, clearly.

WitchOfAlba · 19/08/2015 18:43

I offered to take DD out for a meal after her exams as a reward for her hard work but she wanted a takeaway instead so we did that and I bought her some new books. Last week I bought her the clothes for 6th form that she was going to pay for herself.

She won't be getting a reward tomorrow for her grades, the grades are the reward for her hard work. Obviously she'll get a well done and be told that I'm proud of her for her hard work, we were talking about it today and I told her how proud I am of her regardless of the results.

One of her friends is getting £50 for every A* or A she gets.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 19/08/2015 19:47

Thing is, in life, you are generally rewarded for achievement not effort.

fluffie · 19/08/2015 19:56

New rugby boots! At the start of every season we haggle over which boots to get! If DS1 does well tomorrow he'll probably get the flashy ones he's after.

TheSecondOfHerName · 19/08/2015 22:03

Eldest only just about to start Y11 so we aren't quite there yet, but we have told him that if he gets the required grades to get into the sixth form then we will buy him his own laptop to use for A-level studies (he currently has shared use of the oldish family laptop).

I also intend to take him out for a meal after he has done the exams (but before results come out) to reward effort put in and celebrate the fact that he has got through them.

BackforGood · 19/08/2015 22:20

Intrinsic reward of having achieved as well as expected with effort put in.
Will also get verbal praise (support?? - results not available yet) from us.

hellsbells99 · 19/08/2015 22:24

We bought both DDs a watch for working hard for their Gcses (approx £60) and went out for a meal. Last week DD2 got her AS results and I bought her a hoody and boots that she was after (approx £50); DD1 had her A level results and is being rewarded in fairy lights, cushions etc for her uni accommodation!

Jux · 20/08/2015 00:03

I mistakenly told dd I would get her a book for each A she got. She asked what she would get for an A* and I stupidly stupidly stupidly said 2 books. If she gets her expected grades I am going to be saving for eons....

EllenJanethickerknickers · 20/08/2015 00:12

I bought DS1 a rather more expensive phone than I otherwise would have slightly early (straight after results) for his October birthday. TBF, he had worked his socks off.

ShanghaiDiva · 20/08/2015 06:04

DS got his results on the 11th August - cambridge igcses - went out for a meal and bought him the headphones he wanted.

Ripeningapples · 20/08/2015 07:33

DD has worked her socks off. If she does well, she'll get a hug and we'll dance all the way to her 1st choice school with her results slip. If she doesn't get what she needs, she'll get a hug and we'll quietly go to her Plan B school.

Either way there will be a lovely meal and a few treats it's just if she gets what she wants she'll enjoy it and if she doesn't she won't feel like it. If it's the latter I think she'll need more boosting than the former tbh and already have an idea forming in my mind of taking her to NY at half term.

Spidermama · 20/08/2015 10:46

I seem to be really out of step with most of you. My dd gets £70 for an A* and 50 for an A. DH also thinks she should get 20 for Bs. It means we're shelling out nearly £400 this morning which I think is a bit excessive actually. A pat on the back is too sparse and making her come out for a meal with us is more punishment than treat.

On reflection I think I would have said £50 for A*, £40 for an A, and 20 for a B.

hugoagogo · 20/08/2015 11:02

Fuck a duck!

I am pondering buying ds a DVD player (approximately £30) £400 is ott I think.

Spidermama · 20/08/2015 11:19

DS's friend's mum is taking him on a scuba diving holiday and he's only Y10 so just done science this year! That's got to cost a couple of thousand.

ExitPursuedByABear · 20/08/2015 11:53

Well I'ver just shot myself in the foot by giving DD £100 for getting an A in her statistics exam (school take it in year 10). I was so proud I couldn't help myself - although I have stressed that any remuneration will not be at that level for her results in Y11!

Ripeningapples · 20/08/2015 12:15

DD did extremely well and met her offer for one of the most selective schools in London, if not the UK. We had a smoked salmon roll each in Pret and she asked if she could possibly have a new diary for school. It was 9.99 :).

lalamumto3 · 20/08/2015 18:05

Hi we only reward hard work, as we believe that is the only thing that they can really control. We have 3 with very different abilities, I think that good grades are usually a reward in themselves. There is also usually a link between the level of work and how each does.
That said we always either have a special meal at home or go out for dinner to celebrate a success (Pizza Express etc).

We have also found that they totally "get" our stance and don't seem to compare to friends.

ByTheSea · 20/08/2015 21:01

Surprised DD (and myself) this morning by saying we'd like to get her a piece of Pandora jewellery; she already has a couple of rings she loves. She hesitated but I think is really chuffed with the gesture. I am just so proud of the way she overcame some difficult obstacles and did so well.

Millipedewithherfeetup · 20/08/2015 21:38

We went out for a meal (took her boyfriend too),and i bought her some little gifts, a nice candle for her room, chocolate and some nice socks, she was well chuffed, a few of her friends parents went a bit ott, but each to their own.

chickindude · 20/08/2015 21:47

My Lovely boy got 7 A* 2 B's 1C
I brought him a sandwich from Boots
It was a chicken sandwich though. He also had a smoothie & a bag of crisps ( we love a meal deal)????

Leeds2 · 20/08/2015 21:51

I didn't buy DD anything after GCSEs last year, although treated her and her BF to dinner (not with me!).

This year, for ASs, she has been away. I sent her a cookie! We are going out for afternoon tea when she gets back on Sunday.

Agree with the idea that they should work for their own benefit, and it doesn't need financially rewarding.

stonecircle · 20/08/2015 22:37

I think paying an amount per grade is frankly bizarre. Would any 16 year old really think, 'hey I wasn't going to work for my GCSEs but now I know there's a bit of cash in it I will"?!

And just doing it as a reward is beset with problems unless you only have one child who always achieves well. DS2 did extremely well in his GCSEs 2 years ago - same time as DS1 bombed his A2s. This year DS2 has done extremely well at A level - same time as DS3 has not really covered himself in glory at GCSE (and offering him £50 per A or whatever would not have made him do any work!)

SheGotAllDaMoves · 20/08/2015 22:42

We had a Chinese takeaway when GCSEs finished ( last of the big spenders ).

Nothing for results. The results are the reward Grin. They wanted to do well far more than I needed them to so no needs to pay them.

That said DH said if DS got an A* in Eng Lit he'd eat The Merchsnt of Venice ... So that will be fun!

Original poster
alli1968 · 21/08/2015 16:41

Hi all - thanks for all your answers! Sage advice all round.

It was a cheeky nandos for us!

OP posts: