Ever since Ofsted was created to scrutinise schools, teachers
all over Britain have been raising the stakes in an effort to
motivate pupils to achieve top grades and meet tough Government
targets. Prizes such as computers, iPods, cinema tickets, BMXs
and trips to watch premiership football are examples of some of
the incentive packages pupils can expect to win if they gain top
scores in their exams. There are also the Government incentives
of money for older pupils who stay on in school plus bonuses for
good reports and attendance. Do incentives help children learn?
Some educators question such practices while others view them as
positive investment in school children’s futures. One teacher,
who has mixed views on this, is Andrew Asante of Furze Platt
Secondary School in Berkshire. He describes the practice as
‘dangling financial carrots’ and he thinks perhaps the money
would be better spent in other ways. “More money should go into
engaging non-academic pupils in more practical work,” says
Andrew. “When you