Oldbury headteacher hits back over cash-for-grades row

Struggling students at Government-funded Oldbury Academy could get up to £200 if they drag flagging GCSE grades upwards – whereas high-fliers will get nothing.

Details of the scheme have prompted fears children will now hold their school to ransom – with a 'we will only work for money' attitude.

But head John Martin defended the initiative, saying it has cost less than £500 in the past three years. He said: "To suggest this initiative will cost thousands of pounds demonstrates the lack of understanding and factual detail in the letter that we respond to. The suggestion that there is a narrow focus on particular sub-groups of students is not in any shape or form accurate.

"Meticulous tracking of progress and target setting within the school reinforces expectation and raises aspirations and the targets set are highly challenging."

The controversial policy is believed to focus on a group of 49 Year 11 pupils due to sit their GCSEs this summer.

But a mother of one Year 11 pupil, who asked not to be named, said: "My daughter has been predicted A and B grades and I've heard nothing about any rewards. It's a bit of a kick in the teeth for kids who just get their head down and get on with it."

The row has also reached Westminster. Tory MP Graham Stuart, chairman of the Commons Education Select Committee, told one national newspaper: "This is a distortion based on the importance of a C grade to the school, instead of its importance to the child."

Academic Christopher Hill, whose father used to work at the specialist sports academy, yesterday accused the 1,610-pupil school of setting a bad example to children.