My GCSE Music teacher has always been unorganised (e.g she has lost my music since December), we nearly didn't finish the syllabus etc., but when we had our last GCSE Music exam on 24th May, she was supposed to hand out these forms, where you say that everything in your coursework is of your own work.

Now, for one of mine I based some of my composition on Scarborough Fair, which I got from a online site. She said it would be perfectly ok to use it (and I have changed it very, very, very much to how it was), but I need to credit the source on this form.

Anyway, when I did this exam, she'd forgotten ( ) these forms. She just said "the board will have to do without them" (our entries are already late), but I really need to credit this source and I don't know what to do.

I don't want to a) be disqualified if I don't credit it or not have my Music GCSE allowed because she hasn't handed these forms in. So can I do anything?

I have to see her at some point, so she can pay for this Music she has had since December but has lost.

Thanks.

Does your head teacher know about all this stuff? Or your head of year?

Write a letter to both of them telling them what's going on and expressing your concern for your GCSE results. And get your parents to do the same.

It's not "telling tales". It's making sure that a problem that potentially affects a load of other people as well as you gets sorted.

You deserve to be treated properly and to have your work treated properly as well, and that won't happen while this teacher is not doing their job right.

Cheers

Katyjay

ps - make sure you keep a copy of the letters!

Yeah speak to your headteacher of something

Do you have the name of that site?

Not to worry you, but the forms and compsoitions were supposed to be at the end of Apil/early May at the latest.

What is she playing at?! Even if she'd remembered to hand them out on Tuesday that would still have been after the dealine.

Write a letter to the exam board like KatyJay said, and get your exams advisor at school to sign it, or even better get them to write it. They shouldn't make it have an affect on your grade if you do this.

It says somewhere in their regulations that anything that should be taken into consideration concerning exam results, eg illness, family problems are always looked into, as long as you act on it quickly. It should be the same for this.

I'd go and slap my teacher if I were you, you deserve far better!

Good luck!

i'm not sure, but I think those forms are pretty important! because they are basically to say yu havn't plagiarised, which is a big no no in exams (obviously) so I think definitely write a letter to the exam board to explain the situation, and remember to mention that it's not just you, so the others in your class don't suffer either!

Helen - (SORRY - NICKI !!!!!)
sorry to hear you have this hassle, and no, it's not acceptable at all.

Good luck in sorting it out.

Does it make any difference that Scarborough Fair is a folk melody, and is the kind of music that would originally have been handed on in the oral tradition rather than being written down ??

M

It's Nicki not Helen!!

oh nooooooooooooo - thanks for pointing that out Nat - I must be half asleep!

M

I was like that yesterday so don't worry.

See your exams advisor and get it sorted out. Otherwise you may find that some of you other exams get disqualified as well as other people's.

Well, she got permission from the board to send the coursework in 5 days after the closing date. So, I think they're all sent in. *thinks* Partly her fault she needed an extension, we only started recording in April.

I think I'll go and see her on Monday. She needs to pay me for the book she's lost and I'll tell her I NEED to credit Scarborough Fair.

Katyjay and Nat - I need to credit it because I based it on some music which I printed off a site. In my coursework, I have stuck a print out of this music in.

I'll ask her when I see her about the forms, it is just driving me mad. Unfortunately, I will have her for A Level. She isn't going through an easy time (personal reasons) I think, but that doesn't mean she can mess her students around.

I'll also see if I can speak to the exams officer on Mon, I just don't need this extra stress.

You're right, you don't need this stress. But you'll sort it out, so don't worry. And I doubt the board will disqualify you as it is not your fault that you have not been able to fill out this form.

I suppose not. I just hope it isn't too late.

the board would give you consideration about the teacher being a bit wacky wouldnt they?

Did you write it in your title that you'd used a folk song? That might class as being declared as a source.

It didn't have a title!

Oh I don't know then. But I think you should sack your teacher coz those forms had to be in nearly 2 months ago now!

Well, she got an extended 5 days, our coursework had to be in for 12th May. I;ll see what she says on Monday, and will probably contact the board.

Nikki, if you put a copy of the original piece in; then its pretty darn obvious you weren't trying to pass it off as entirely your own!

Your hardly likely to get disqualified for circumstances so obviously beyond your control!

I'm still going to ring up the teacher though. She has messed the whole class around so much.

Hopefully I'll survive A Level Music!

Try not to worry about it: you certainly won't get disqualified for not crediting a source when you have had absolutely no opportunity to do so. You haven't signed that you've not copied anything; nor have you had the chance to say that you used the tune in your work so you'll be okay.

The worst that will happen is that your exam board will ask your teacher to send the forms in late, you can't be disqualified for this as you've not had the chance to declare anything; nor have you made a declaration to the contrary.