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Are teachers allowed to be negative in references?

mxox

2

I'm scared because my teacher isn't letting me see mine while others in the same school have seen theirs!

Reply 1

matrixman397

mxox

I'm scared because my teacher isn't letting me see mine while others in the same school have seen theirs!

It's your right to see it, so demand that you do! Back to your question, there generally meant to write positive things about you, so i'm not too sure about that!

Reply 2

Cirsium

19

It's your right to see it after they've sent it strangely enough but no a reference is a reference and if you're a little **** then they can say so!! However it's highly unlikely that they would and not letting you see it is just standard practice in a lot of schools!

Reply 3

Elles

17

seconding what Bekaboo said.. :smile:

my 6th form college was brutally honest, apparently & still let people see the ref. - so some people decided to apply during GAP year & get a Ref. from elsewhere, because they thought they'd have no chance with that one... :eek:

they're not 'generally meant to write positive things' - but give a fair ref! :rolleyes:

normally i think it means they'll equivocate i.e. rather than writing something negative, they'll just omit the praises other students will receive - which apparently ATs can pretty much interpret by omission what they really mean.. :wink:

but there's nothing to stop them being negative.

& if you're concerned about this then you obviously have a guilty conscience! :tongue:

because honesty should work in your favour & i suppose it is possible that certain places might develop reputations for being fair & honest w/ ref. or having wildly optimistic predictions & falsely positive ref's that would put them off trusting what's said about any applicants from that place..

Reply 4

LS.

8

After the referance is sent, you can request a copy from UCAS (for £10)

Reply 5

Asian cutie

1

u can get ur ucas form back (with the reference) from ucas http://www.ucas.com/getting/how/data.html hope that helps :wink:

i got mine back and most of the time they tell the truth!

Reply 6

mxox

OP

2

Thanks guys!

P.s. Attendance is all I'm guilty about! But they're big on attendance in my college unfortunately :mad:

Reply 7

Ziggy Stardust

Is a good reference really really really important?

Reply 8

mxox

OP

2

I think its like 45 % predicted grades 35% personal statement and 20 % reference! unless the reference is pretty bad .. enough to make them sit up and make notice. But if ure predicted grades are good your reference is unlikely to be too bad right?

Reply 9

AT82

My tutor once wrote a reference to this lad who was really lazy. He said he has a basic understanding but never hands his work in on time and is very lazy....

The main course tutor refused to accept it and she wrote him a new one which was a pack of lies. The reference who wrote me was so good I reckon I almost could have got into Oxbridge with it :tongue:

. All I did was hand the work in on time :smile:

.

Reply 10

an Siarach

15

mxox

I'm scared because my teacher isn't letting me see mine while others in the same school have seen theirs!

Morally they should refuse to give a reference unless they can provide one which is worthwhile. Legally they HAVE to show you what they have written about you.

Reply 11

TheWolf

15

afireinside©

Is a good reference really really really important?

Yes.

Reply 12

~Sam~

15

Of course they're allowed to be negative, it would completely devalue them if they had to say everyone was amazingly perfect. Try not to worry though, most teachers tend to be nice with references :smile:

I wasn't allowed to see mine but hopefully it was positive enough.

Reply 13

Zapsta

My school has a policy that reference aren't allowed to contain negative comments. It's good like that :smile:

. Sadly it also has a policy that we aren't allowed to see our final references :frown:

(unless we get them through UCAS).

Reply 14

Munna

I got to write my own reference. But i made up so much about myself that im really worried the university people will suspect something. But then again, my personal statement was really childish so i dont think i have an advantage becoz of reference.

Reply 15

ickle_katy

11

we wernt allowed to see our references and i think although mine didnt have "negative" comments on it, it did make reference to things that i wish it hadnt about difficult times in my life - which i see as negative.

love Katy***

Reply 16

TheWolf

15

Munna

I got to write my own reference. But i made up so much about myself that im really worried the university people will suspect something. But then again, my personal statement was really childish so i dont think i have an advantage becoz of reference.

wtf - surely writing your own reference shouldnt be allowed.

Reply 17

Ali_04

7

Zapsta

(unless we get them through UCAS).

How do u do that? my friend managed to but i haven't got round to asking him how he got it! pls help- i'm really nosy n i wana see what my teacher wrote! lol :tongue:

Reply 18

Ellie4

2

Ali_04

How do u do that? my friend managed to but i haven't got round to asking him how he got it! pls help- i'm really nosy n i wana see what my teacher wrote! lol :tongue:

You just send UCAS a letter asking to see it, and enclose a cheque for £10. Details about it are on the UCAS website (data protection act).

Reply 19

m:)ckel

14

Ali_04

How do u do that? my friend managed to but i haven't got round to asking him how he got it! pls help- i'm really nosy n i wana see what my teacher wrote! lol :tongue:

ellie

You just send UCAS a letter asking to see it, and enclose a cheque for £10.

Send them £20 and they'll let you change it :wink:

(not that it will do much good with the form already sent to your unis anyway :tongue:

)

Are teachers allowed to be negative in references?

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