Immigrants Care More Than White People About Their Kids' Education, Says School Inspection Chief

Immigrant parents care more about their childrens’ educations than their white, working class counterparts, according to the British government’s Chief Inspector of Schools.

Sir Michael Wilshaw, head of school inspectors Ofsted, said that black and Asian children were outperforming their white classmates because their parents did more to support their children at homework and reading.

The Daily Mail quotes him as saying: “There are parts of our communities – particularly people from immigrant groups, ethnic minority groups, where their children are doing fantastically well because their parents support them.”

He added that educational achievement of white working class boys was “quite staggeringly low”.

This is the latest controversial remark from Sir Michael after he called for bad parents to be fined for not helping children with homework.

“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,” he said.

“Headteachers 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.”

He reiterated his support for the idea this morning, saying: “If parents don’t support their children and do badly there should be sanctions against them.

“I think it’s important that families and parents support the school.

“What we’ve got to make sure is that schools go out of their way to support these children, and we’re recommending long school days where youngsters can do their homework in the evenings – possibly receive an evening meal.

“Children need the support of their parents and the school needs the support of parents as well.

“If they don’t provide that support then there should be sanctions. I’m quite unequivocal about that. We need to send a message out there to parents that they need to support their children.”

Sir Michael also called for state schools to start copying private schools to raise standards, especially in sports. He said: “What we’ve got to start talking about in state schools is excellence. We’ve got to start talking about competition and elitism.

“We’ve got to make sure that all those things that work with the independent sector are replicated in the state system.”