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"A household based in north London is looking for an remarkable and skilled instructor to support their youngest child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."

Upon seeing this advertisement, you might easily overlook the phrase "beginning" as just a turn of phrase.

However, it may be the crucial aspect of this unique position posting, as it attempts to recruit a teacher for a 12-month-old.

Many of applications have already been submitted since the unidentified family posted their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".

Over the last few weeks, the post has attracted notice in the press, with several asking why?

Innovative Idea

Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their hunt, said that notwithstanding early scepticism, he viewed the plan "visionary", and "innovative".

When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized the unusual nature of their request, and how early in age their son is.

But, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had by then taken hold".

What exactly does the family mean by "cultural leaning"?

It's "comprehensive", he replied. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".

He explained the firstborn had picked up "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family informed the consultant they hoped to prevent history to recur with their younger child.

The intention: To engage a UK tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.

Natural Absorption

"A lot of the education at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," explained the expert.

It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will pick up the British traits they want to cultivate.

He said the tutor needed to be somebody who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".

"The instructor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he said.

Expense Not a Factor

The family informed Adam the successful candidate should preferably also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.

More than that though, he said the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a range 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 perspective, helping their son grow into a "British gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and provide access.

"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he adds.

However, despite all this instruction in "Britishness", would the child absorb what is termed cultural leaning from the multicultural family he lives with in any case?

"Certainly", replied he. "They realize this could fail, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he explained.

Idealistic and Unrealistic

There are some in the education sector who express those reservations.

Peter Cui, head and founder of Blue Education, who supplies personal educators, stated that "the process of becoming bicultural, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not designed."

He noted that he had relocated from China to the United Kingdom at the period of seven, and had been raised knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He went on to learn at a prestigious UK institution.

"The concept that an individual can serve as a representation of English culture, an individual who can somehow transplant the qualities of a UK sophisticate upon a 12-month-old child, appears optimistic and impractical," he stated.

"In my experience, engaging a distinctly UK tutor from babyhood will does not instantly produce the outcome they desire.

"I did not have such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to live numerous of the experiences they desire for their son."

He added: "The reality is, self-identity should not be dictated from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."

Buying Britishness

Of course, UK identity is something the expert thinks can be taught – and commercialized.

"In my view the situation that the global community holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating