Teachers: We Won't Be Debt Collectors For State

Teachers have attacked a proposal to fine bad parents who do not support their children's education at school.

The head of one of the teaching unions and a leading headteacher said the idea by Chief Inspector of School Sir Michael Wilshaw would not work.

Head of Penwortham Priory Academy in Preston Jim Hourigan told Sky News the relationship between teachers and parents would break down. 

Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said the proposal could tear apart the sometimes fragile relationship between a school and parents or carers.

Sir Michael, who heads schools watchdog Ofsted, said he would like to see mothers and fathers who miss parents' evenings or do not read with them punished.

He also told The Times newspaper financial penalties should be levied against parents who do not force their children to do their homework.

He said that being poor was too often used by white working-class families as an excuse for failing to succeed at school.

Sir Michael Wilshaw says parents use being poor as an 'excuse'

Mr Hourigan said: "I'm extremely disappointed if not angry at the arrogance of the man. Just because he has worked in an inner city school doesn't give him the right to tell the rest of us as head teachers how to develop relationships with parents.

"Who gives him as head of Ofsted or me as a head teacher the right to make that decision. He says that parents must attend parents evenings but where is the evidence that parents evening are actually beneficial?

"Surely, regular informed contact (with parents), built up over a long time, is a better way of going about that.

"For me to be some sort of debt collector; how does this improve the relationship between teachers and parents."

Bad parents are those who do not read with their children, says Sir Michael

Ms Blower said: "Not satisfied with criticising and undermining teachers, he's now turned his attention to parents.

"I don't think parents use poverty as an excuse. All the international evidence shows that children from less affluent families have much more difficulty in being successful in schools.

"That's why schools have to work positively with parents. The NUT's position is that Ofsted is not fit for purpose."

His comments came after studies showed that white children with working-class, British parents often do not perform as well as those from immigrant communities.

The Ofsted head said his views were formed from his time spent working as a head teacher in London's inner-city schools.

He told The Times: "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."

In order to catch up with the world's leading nations, he added, the gap in performance between those children with white British and those with immigrant parents needed to narrow.

He said: "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."

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