Advice needed please:
Situation: At the start of this calendar year, I told a 17 year old pupil who has been with me about 8 years but has always been inherently lazy, that I would enter him for the Period A exam in Grade V if he promised to work at the pieces. He agreed to do so and although he has been doing a bit more practiced I judged that there was simply not enough improvement to make us optimistic about even a scraped pass. Bearing in mind that the boy has already failed an exam under my tutelage some five years ago and I that I didn't want him to repeat this humiliation, I suggested that he should be withdrawn. Both he and his mother (somewhat) reluctantly agreed that they did not want another fail.

I've felt that I've been rather hasty about entering him and although I did so with good intentions of trying to scare him into working, I realise that it was the wrong decision. I have offered to bear about one half of the cost of the fee, so his last two lessons have been free. Is this a dangerous precedent to set? Has anyone else been in this position? (The boy has bought the new 07-08 syllabus and started on his list C piece today, very promisingly. The old ones had run out so we have had to start afresh. The pieces running out was incidentally another factor which precipiated my entering him for Easter in the first place).

Another thing I'd like advice for is how exactly I go about officially notifying the board and the examination centre. Last time when I had to withdraw someone I informed the board in London, but the info didn't seem to get passed on to the centre and they were waiting for my candidate in vain. What is the easier and most foolproof procedure please?

Many thanks,

LR

As this isn't withdrawal on the grounds of ill-health I don't think you'll get any of the fee back so it's up to you if you wish to make any (generous) donation towards the cost of same. Personally, I don't think you need to because you entered the candidate in good faith and he wasn't able to put in enough work to get through in the timescale. If you really believe that was, in part, your fault then sponsoring the cancelled entry can be seen as a "goodwill" gesture but beware of setting precedents. I'd certainly want to make sure his Mum understands you're not going to do that every time if pupil doesn't deliver the goods!

As to letting ABRSM know, you must contact the appropriate Regional office at Portland Place to tell them he's withdrawn. They will then let the Centre know - or should do. If you leave it very late to tell them, they may not be able to get the info through in time but I'd be fairly sure that telling them now should be fine. You could also, as a courtesy, I guess phone your HLR to confirm this too. That covers your tracks completely.

Hope things work out better for you all with the new book.

Sounds like you have done the right thing by withdrawing the candidate. Offering to pay half the fee was maybe a bit too generous. It's understandable that you feel partly responsible, but unless you were asking him to do the impossible, you shouldn't feel so guilty. I'm sure he knew himself the amount of work he'd need to put in, and agreed to be entered.

I don't think you're setting a dangerous precendent, so long as the parents of your other pupils don't find out!

On the bright side, your plan didn't fail completely as you did say he had practised a bit more

Possible once you have contacted the board to cancel, you could also get in touch with the local representative for the area, who will be at the exam centre, and inform them not to expect the pupil. I've never had to cancel an exam yet, so maybe someone else will know for sure!

xx

I had to withdraw a candidate this term too. I contacted the regional office at portland place who were very helpful.

Its a pity when it happens, but occasionally it does. Thanks for the tip off I'll ring the centre on Monday and check thery're not expecting my candidate.

Thanks very much jod, ad libitum and oboeist. Most helpful as ever.

LR (Robert)

The Board should inform the exam centre - if it's a very late withdrawal they will phone on the day.