Would you pay your children for doing well (Picture: Getty)

GCSE results are released today.

While some children may be nervous, others could be feeling excited – and not just because they’re heading into their next stage of life.

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No, for some lucky teenagers they could be about to come into a bit of money.

Why? Because they were offered it as an incentive to do well in their exams by their parents.


In fact, according to a new study, some children could be expecting around £300 for each A grade, and £200 per B.

According to a new study, some children could be expecting around £300 for each A grade (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

That’s £300 for every 9, 8 and 7, and £200 for every 6 and 5, under the new GCSE grade boundries, according to VoucherCodes, who conducted the survey.



But how much – if at all – is an acceptable amount to be awarding your children for passing their GCSEs?

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Speaking to Metro.co.uk, mum Pauline Kent from Norfolk said she has never offered a financial incentive to any of her four children, including her 16-year-old son who is set to pick up his results later today.

She said: ‘I have never offered a financial incentive.

‘My attitude was shaped when I was 11-years-old, I took the 11 plus and failed.

‘My best friend failed too but unlike me she didn’t get the bike she was promised if she passed – and I remember the heart ache and the tears.

‘The failure felt like the end of the world to her whereas for me it was just one of those things.

‘I believe motivation comes from within and children should be encouraged to do the best they can.

The opinion as to whether parents should be offering their teenagers money for good grades was divided. (Picture: Getty / Myles Goode)

‘If my son doesn’t get the grades he wants today then he can re-sit or take a different direction. I hope I can inspire rather than take his dreams away.’

However, mum Carla Butler from Stafford in the West Midlands, told Metro.co.uk: ‘I will offer £50 to each of my daughters when they reach their GCSEs.

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‘That way it’s a healthy incentive for them to want to do well and they can work towards getting a new pair of trainers or something with the money.’

In a discussion with mums on Mumsnet, the opinion as to whether parents should be offering their teenagers money for good grades was divided.

One mum said: ‘In my opinion, the reward is the grade itself! You worked hard and you have the result to prove it!

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‘We took our daughter out for a meal to celebrate and I did buy her a treat a few weeks later but no specific cash sum allowance per grade was given.’

Another said: ‘We praised our children and took them out for a meal.’

Other parents stated that they offered the rewards – but regretted it when the results came in.

An enormous 75% said that they would not offer money as an incentive. (Picture: Getty)

A mum said: ‘We told our son we would give him £50 if he got each of his predicted grades. He did and it turned out to cost us a hefty £500!



‘The money incentive came about after a discussion where he said he wanted to get a part time job, but we wanted him to focus on his school work.

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‘So we agreed that his school work would be his ‘work’ and he would be rewarded for it.’

In a poll created by Metro.co.uk, 400 parents responded when asked ‘what is the acceptable amount to give your children for passing their GCSEs?’

Around 21% stated they would give up to £100 per good grade, 2% said they would offer up to £200 and a further 2% said they would hand over up to £300.

An enormous 75% said that they would not offer money as an incentive.