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"A household located in North London is looking for an exceptional and qualified instructor to guide their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."

Looking at this advertisement, you might easily miss the phrase "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.

However, it could be the crucial aspect of this unusual job advert, as it attempts to find a tutor for a one-year-old.

Hundreds of submissions have since been sent in since the unidentified family published their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".

In recent few weeks, the advert has gained notice across the press, with many questioning why?

Progressive Approach

The CEO, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their quest, stated that despite initial scepticism, he viewed the plan "visionary", and "innovative".

When he spoke with the family, he said they understood the unconventional character of their requirement, and how young their son is.

However, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had by then set in".

What precisely did the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?

It's "comprehensive", Adam responded. "How you eat, how you speak".

He explained the firstborn had picked up "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family informed the consultant they did not want history to recur with their infant.

The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to shape the baby right from the beginning.

Subtle Influence

"Much of the learning at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said the expert.

It's through this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will adopt the British traits they wish to cultivate.

He explained the tutor must be an individual who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".

"The tutor must be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he added.

Money No Object

The family told the expert the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in horse riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and music so as to influence the child in a wide range of passions.

Furthermore though, he said the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".

In the family's minds, helping their son develop into a "English gentleman" will result in success and provide access.

"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he adds.

But, notwithstanding all this guidance in "Britishness", might the child pick up so-called cultural influence from the international family he resides with regardless?

"Absolutely", replied the CEO. "They understand this may not work, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.

Impractical

There are some in the tutoring industry who have those reservations.

An education leader, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides individual instructors, commented that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."

The expert explained that he had moved from China to the United Kingdom at the period of childhood, and had been educated experiencing and practicing dual heritages. He continued to learn at Cambridge University.

"The idea that a single person can function as a representation of English culture, a person who can somehow impart the characteristics of a UK sophisticate to a 12-month-old child, appears naive and impractical," he commented.

"Based on my background, engaging a typically English tutor from infancy will will not instantly produce the outcome they hope for.

"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and however I have been privileged enough to enjoy several of the experiences they hope for their son."

He added: "The truth is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must come from within."

Buying Britishness

Naturally, UK identity is something Adam thinks can be taught – and sold.

"I think the situation that the global community views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating