Head of Eton says schools should offer discounted flights to improve parental engagement

[noblegiraffe]

www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/academy-trusts-could-engage-parents-offering-discounted-flights

You might think that he's just talking about private schools, but no, he thinks it would be possible for large multi-academy trusts to do this.

Perhaps the Harris Federation could offer discounted carpets and Vardy's schools could do you a good deal on a second hand car?

Wow. He's deluded.

I'm a very involved parent. Looking forward to my cheap flights to Tenerife.

It's another world.

He'said talking about private schools. He was talking to the HMC and he talked about being "fee neutral". He works for a chain himself now.

After his talk he told journalists that it would be difficult for individual schools to offer these schemes - but suggested a group of schools, like a large multi-academy trust, could award such benefits.

MATs are state schools?

I assumed he was talking about chain like his. Maybe not? Might tweet it to our CEO...

Maybe they could offer it as a reward for 100% attendance. No term-time holidays = discounted flight to Disneyland.

Next step to 'This school is brought to you by United Airlines. Do as you are told or else'

FFS-- as if i can afford to fly anywhere after paying fees!

He's the EX Head of Eton - now works for some educational group based in the Middle East. (?GEMS)

What a truely bizarre thing to suggest. I would have thought most parents at fee paying schools are pretty engaged certainly most we know are very engaged some frightenly so. It appears he thinks this idea could apply to some schools in the state sector. But how do you measure engagement? By how many teddy bear stalls you volunteer to man? What about those with jobs or carers responsibilities? By your DC's attendance? This would penalise those who are genuinely unwell would that be classed as discrimination for the chronically unwell? . Or perhaps by a parents attendance at parent teacher meetings? Who awards and monitors who gets the points? If your DC has a 100% attendance, you've manned 1 teddy bear stall, attended a parent teacher meeting, patiently waiting to see every teacher and listened to those struggling with their reading you're rewarded 2000 points which equates to £20 of your next flight. An extra 1000 bonus points if your DC always hands in all their prep on trime. Maybe you can loose points as well, your DC mucks around in class loose 100, forgets his PE kit loose 150, fails to hand in prep loose 300 who adjudicates all of this? Parents will come up with extenuating circumstances. Those who are totally unengaged with their child's education will surely stay that way. Finally where will the money come from? Ridiculous idea I just can't see it working.