Fantastic Teacher - Terrible Admin

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Fantastic Teacher - Terrible Admin, Missed exam entry date

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Gizzie	Oct 26 2011, 11:18 AM Post #1
Newbie Group: Members Posts: 16 Joined: 2-June 11 Member No.: 265308	I'd love some advice please. My son's trumpet teacher is an absolutely fantastic teacher. Really amazing. But administratively, a nightmare. He almost missed the entry deadline for my son's grade 5 theory, in which he got a distinction, so it's not that he thought my son wasn't ready, it was that the teacher had forgotten. Now, it appears as if the teacher has missed the deadline for his grade 6 trumpet exam which he thought he'd be taking between November and December. I've sent a message, but not heard anything back. I'm really really angry, and not sure what to do. Help.

Czerny	Oct 26 2011, 11:24 AM Post #2
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 4079 Joined: 7-December 07 Member No.: 21097	I'm not sure what you mean by "it appears". But if he has omitted to send in the entry, it will be up to the Board to decide whether your son can still take the exam (no idea how likely it is that they would squeeze him in as it's way after the closing date), so it might be better to pre-empt things and give them a ring. They're usually pretty helpful, especially if you can be flexible with which centre you go to. The other thing that might work is having your son added to a Special Visit. In the future it would probably be a good idea to check he's submitted his exam entries on time!

jod	Oct 26 2011, 11:28 AM Post #3
Maestro Group: Banned Posts: 9899 Joined: 14-January 05 From: Burwell, Cambridgeshire Member No.: 2939	There are two bits of admin, however bad at it you can not afford to get wrong. Exam entries, and Tax returns. Exam entries mess pupils around ( actually any entries do, but especially exam entries) and Tax returns land you in trouble with the Tax authorities. All the other bits and pieces although important and necessary are not quite as vital. It is not as if the boards do not publish closing dates.

BerkshireMum	Oct 26 2011, 11:30 AM Post #4
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 6601 Joined: 20-July 07 From: West Berks Member No.: 13405	It is too late for you as a parent to enter your son for his grade 6, so all you can do is talk to the teacher and see whether he is prepared to grovel to the Board (as he has presumably entered candidates before they may look on him kindly). I can see how frustrating and disappointing it is for you and your son, but as you think him very good perhaps it is better to keep the teacher than make a big fuss if he doesn't agree to this. It is more important for your son to do the work for the grades than it is for him to sit every exam, and as long as the teacher is prepared to move on rather than entering him for grade 6 next session, I don't think your son will lose out too much by skipping grade 6 and going for grade 7 in a year's time, say. Of course, it depends how old he is; if he's coming to the end of his school life, it's rather different and he might prefer to be entered for grade 6 next session. Whichever, do nag the teacher next time!

Halka	Oct 26 2011, 11:45 AM Post #5
Prodigy Group: Members Posts: 1359 Joined: 1-May 07 Member No.: 11036	Daughter's cello teacher used to hate admin and always insisted we did all the exam entering ourselves. This might be the way for you to go in future, once you've agreed with the teacher that the time for an exam is right, of course.

Liberty Belle	Oct 26 2011, 12:03 PM Post #6
Unregistered	I've known a teacher similar to this - absolutely wonderful teacher and a great person, but not very good at admin, although they did improve. I came to the conclusion that what made the teacher such a brilliant teacher and such a great person were the very things that made them not so good at admin. This is not to say that some teachers can't be both(!), but this particular teacher obviously had a bit of a blind spot about admin. But I was willing to put up with a certain amount of frustration over the admin side for the sake of every other aspect of their teaching which I was extremely happy with. Nobody's perfect, but in every other way except admin, this teacher was, so we resolved the admin issue by me taking responsibility for it. And yes, I once also had to contact the board over a missed exam deadline and they were very helpful about it. Best of luck, Gizzie, I hope they can fit your son in.

Czerny	Oct 26 2011, 12:17 PM Post #7
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 4079 Joined: 7-December 07 Member No.: 21097	QUOTE(BerkshireMum @ Oct 26 2011, 12:30 PM) It is too late for you as a parent to enter your son for his grade 6, so all you can do is talk to the teacher and see whether he is prepared to grovel to the Board (as he has presumably entered candidates before they may look on him kindly). Given this teacher's apparent hopelessness in this area I'd be inclined to take matters into my own hands. I'm not sure that the fact that the teacher has previously entered candidates will make any difference to the Board. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Gizzie	Oct 26 2011, 12:24 PM Post #8
Newbie Group: Members Posts: 16 Joined: 2-June 11 Member No.: 265308	Phew - He got in contact with me and said that he's doing a special visit, and should hear soon when the date is. I'm glad that's sorted. I was very worried.

jod	Oct 26 2011, 12:30 PM Post #9
Maestro Group: Banned Posts: 9899 Joined: 14-January 05 From: Burwell, Cambridgeshire Member No.: 2939	QUOTE(Gizzie @ Oct 26 2011, 01:24 PM) Phew - He got in contact with me and said that he's doing a special visit, and should hear soon when the date is. I'm glad that's sorted. I was very worried. Very pleased for you. It sometimes does work out. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

RoseRodent	Oct 26 2011, 01:41 PM Post #10
Prodigy Group: Members Posts: 1527 Joined: 29-September 09 From: Scotland Member No.: 76503	Glad it's all turned out well this time around. Personally I'd still be tempted to register for an examination number yourself, just in case this comes up again. If it looks like nobody is doing anything at least you can submit an entry on your own, and if you never use it you never use it. Problem area with that is if the teacher is organising or is personally doing the accompaniament as you'll have some problems if his exam ends up separate from all the others, and of course upsetting the apple cart. To prevent him ending up with two entries you'd have to ensure you sent the correct message unequivocally, like a letter stating "I will enter my son for his examination directly if I do not hear from you on this number by xpm on the nth of October". I like to have belt and braces available, and it may not be that important in the grand scheme of things, but a child who has been preparing for an exam is likely to be heavily disappointed if it then doesn't happen.

ViolaMum	Oct 26 2011, 02:38 PM Post #11
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 340 Joined: 19-March 10 Member No.: 94499	Glad that it has all worked out for your son. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Like the others, I think that I would be inclined to take some of the admin responsibility away from the teacher in future. Or maybe do as RoseRodent suggests so that you have a way to make an application at the last minute if you need to. Good Luck. Hope the exam goes well. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/fingersCrossed.gif)

BerkshireMum	Oct 26 2011, 03:27 PM Post #12
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 6601 Joined: 20-July 07 From: West Berks Member No.: 13405	QUOTE(Czerny @ Oct 26 2011, 01:17 PM) QUOTE(BerkshireMum @ Oct 26 2011, 12:30 PM) It is too late for you as a parent to enter your son for his grade 6, so all you can do is talk to the teacher and see whether he is prepared to grovel to the Board (as he has presumably entered candidates before they may look on him kindly). Given this teacher's apparent hopelessness in this area I'd be inclined to take matters into my own hands. I'm not sure that the fact that the teacher has previously entered candidates will make any difference to the Board. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) I bow to your superior knowledge (IMG:style_emoticons/default/notworthy.gif) I know that any adult can enter someone, but felt that the Board would be unlikely to accept a late entry from someone without an exam number - otherwise, why have a deadline at all? I've always been told by teachers that if they forget an entry the teacher will sort it out, and that the Board will only communicate with the person who has entered the child for an exam. I fancy most teachers wouldn't welcome parents doing their own thing for their children. Glad it's sorted out now, Gizzie. Perhaps the poor man has been maligned and isn't as inefficient as all that anyway!

Ayshah	Oct 27 2011, 10:07 AM Post #13
Prodigy Group: Members Posts: 1002 Joined: 18-September 04 From: Central London, England Member No.: 2142	I also would be inclined to enter my own child given this teacher's admin issues. You can get an entry number quite easily and if you wish can put the teachers name on the certificate for completion. I entered one of my children once (long story) and as she was prepared by her older sister, same sister's name is in the teachers slot on the certificate. It really is quite simple. Plus the results come directly to you.

KTViola	Oct 27 2011, 01:38 PM Post #14
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 355 Joined: 2-October 06 Member No.: 7854	Well - hang on though - there weren't actually any issues were there? The teacher is taking part in a special visit, and the entries don't have to be in yet. I'm in the same position - which confused one of my colleagues no end until I explained. By all means ask if the teacher would prefer you did the entries, and register for an applicant number, but he hasn't actually missed any deadlines for you.

dolce@piano	Oct 27 2011, 01:51 PM Post #15
Prodigy Group: Members Posts: 1575 Joined: 26-November 08 Member No.: 46163	QUOTE(KTViola @ Oct 27 2011, 01:38 PM) Well - hang on though - there weren't actually any issues were there? The teacher is taking part in a special visit, and the entries don't have to be in yet. I'm in the same position - which confused one of my colleagues no end until I explained. By all means ask if the teacher would prefer you did the entries, and register for an applicant number, but he hasn't actually missed any deadlines for you. Yes - maybe he leaves things rather to the last minute (G5 theory) or doesn't communicate too well (this Special visit) but he's never missed any deadline and that's the key point - he probably thinks other people worry unnecessarily and OF COURSE he'll get it in in time.

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