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| Fine 'bad parents', says Ofsted boss | Fine 'bad parents', says Ofsted boss |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Head teachers in England should be given powers to fine parents who fail to support their children's education, the chief inspector of schools says. | Head teachers in England should be given powers to fine parents who fail to support their children's education, the chief inspector of schools says. |
| Sir Michael Wilshaw says parents who allow homework to be left undone, who miss parents' evenings or fail to read with their children should be punished. | Sir Michael Wilshaw says parents who allow homework to be left undone, who miss parents' evenings or fail to read with their children should be punished. |
| Currently parents receive a £60 penalty notice if their child plays truant. | Currently parents receive a £60 penalty notice if their child plays truant. |
| But Education Secretary Michael Gove wants tougher penalties for those whose children are not "ready to learn". | But Education Secretary Michael Gove wants tougher penalties for those whose children are not "ready to learn". |
| In a speech earlier this month, Mr Gove pledged "stronger sanctions" - if the Conservatives won next year's general election - for parents who did not "play their full part in guaranteeing good behaviour". | In a speech earlier this month, Mr Gove pledged "stronger sanctions" - if the Conservatives won next year's general election - for parents who did not "play their full part in guaranteeing good behaviour". |
| 'You're a poor parent' | 'You're a poor parent' |
| Now in an interview with the Times newspaper, the Ofsted boss said parents who fail to do a good job in supporting their children's education should be penalised. | Now in an interview with the Times newspaper, the Ofsted boss said parents who fail to do a good job in supporting their children's education should be penalised. |
| Speaking about his own experiences as a head teacher in London's inner-city schools, Sir Michael told the newspaper: "I was absolutely clear with parents - if they weren't doing a good job I would tell them so. | Speaking about his own experiences as a head teacher in London's inner-city schools, Sir Michael told the newspaper: "I was absolutely clear with parents - if they weren't doing a good job I would tell them so. |
| "It's up to head teachers to say quite clearly, 'You're a poor parent.' | "It's up to head teachers 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. | "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 head teachers 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." | "I think head teachers 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." |
| Inner-city schools | Inner-city schools |
| Sir Michael 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. | Sir Michael 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." | "There's too much variability and inconsistency across the country." |
| Sir Michael said it was striking that white British children were now doing worst of all. | Sir Michael said it was striking that white British children were now doing worst of all. |
| He said the gap between white British children from poorer families and those from other ethnic groups needed to be closed for England to catch up with the world's leading nations. | He said the gap between white British children from poorer families and those from other ethnic groups needed to be closed for England to catch up with the world's leading nations. |
| "Immigrant communities are doing very well educationally and it should be recognised that they've added value to this country's performance." | "Immigrant communities are doing very well educationally and it should be recognised that they've added value to this country's performance." |
| Sir Michael said poverty was all too often used as an excuse for failure by white working-class families. | Sir Michael said poverty was all too often used as an excuse for failure by white working-class families. |
| "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." | "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." |
| Head teachers | |
| Sir Michael also said he agreed with the government's reforms to GCSE and A-level exams and called for the return of textbooks. | Sir Michael also said he agreed with the government's reforms to GCSE and A-level exams and called for the return of textbooks. |
| He backed Mr Gove's plans for changes, calling them "absolutely necessary", and urged heads to embrace their increased autonomy and "get on with it". | He backed Mr Gove's plans for 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 head teachers." | |
| Head teachers said they welcomed the autonomy that was being offered, but said all too often this was taken away. | |
| Malcolm Trobe, deputy general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "We're told head teachers have autonomy and then we're told what we should be doing. | |
| "We're getting repeated messages from government and Ofsted telling us what we should be doing. | |
| "Perhaps we should say to Sir Michael, if he believes in autonomy, then let us get on with the job." | |
| As for confronting "bad" parents, Mr Trobe said engaging with parents was always the better option. | |
| "It's very important that schools engage with their community and with the parent body and they are very aware of the need to do this. | |
| "It's reasonable to challenge parents, but confrontation rarely leads to a positive outcome." |