Schools should fine 'bad parents', says Ofsted chief

http://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/jun/17/schools-fine-parents-ofsted-michael-wilshaw

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Teachers should confront "bad parents" and heads should be given powers to fine mothers and fathers who fail to support their children's education, the chief inspector of schools has said.

Sir Michael Wilshaw called for headteachers to be given the authority to impose financial penalties on parents who allow homework to be left undone, miss parents' evenings or fail to read with their children.

The head of the schools watchdog, Ofsted, also said that poverty was too often used as an excuse for educational failure among white working-class families, whose children were often outperformed by those from immigrant communities.

His comments come after the education secretary, Michael Gove, indicated that parents would face "stronger sanctions" if they failed to ensure their children turned up to school and behaved properly, potentially in the form of deductions from benefits.

Speaking about his own experiences as a headteacher in London's inner-city schools, Wilshaw told the Times: "I was absolutely clear with parents; if they weren't doing a good job I would tell them so. It's up to headteachers to say quite clearly: 'You're a poor parent'.

"If parents didn't come into school, didn't come to parents' evening, didn't read with their children, didn't ensure they did their homework, I would tell them they were bad parents.

"I think headteachers should have the power to fine them. It's sending the message that you are responsible for your children no matter how poor you are."

Wilshaw praised some schools in inner-city areas as among the best-performing, saying: "London is showing that all children can do well, including poor children, and what we need to do is replicate what's happening here elsewhere. There's too much variability and inconsistency across the country."

It was striking that white British children were now doing worst of all, he said, and the gap between white British children from poorer families and those from other ethnic groups needed closing to catch up with the world's leading nations.

"Immigrant communities are doing very well educationally and it should be recognised that they have added value to this country's performance," he said.

Poverty was all too often used as an excuse for failure by white working-class families, he added, saying: "It's not about income or poverty. Where families believe in education they do well. If they love their children they should support them in schools."

Wilshaw also said he agreed with the government's reforms to exams and called for the return of textbooks.

He backed Gove's plans for radical changes, calling them "absolutely necessary", and urged heads to embrace their increased autonomy and "get on with it".

"Stop moaning, that's my message to headteachers."