Principal offers £5K to failing A-level pupils

A headteacher from Blackburn has been criticised for offering A-level students £5,000 compensation if they fail their exams.

Ian Clinton of Blackburn College in Lancashire has introduced the initiative as he is so confident students will pass, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Commenting on the idea, he said it "illustrated the college's commitment to the success of students".

Nick Seaton of the Campaign for Real Education said the scheme is "absolutely crazy".

"This sort of scheme could act as an incentive for students to deliberately fail their exams, not to pass and get the qualifications they need for later life," he said.

 Many youngsters will see this as a considerable amount of money and may be tempted to fail their exams on purpose, Mr Seaton added.

A-level pass rates increased by 0.1 per cent this year, with 27 per cent of exam candidates achieving an A grade.

More than eight per cent of pupils were awarded an A* grade.

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