Plagiarism Policy
1. Statement
2. Aims
3. Related policies
4. Plagiarism
5. Procedure for dealing with suspected plagiarism
6. Plagiarism as malpractice in examinations and assessments
7. Resolving disputes around plagiarism
1. Statement
Ashbourne encourages and expects students to set and maintain high standards in their behaviour and commitment to academic integrity, as set out in the Student Behaviour and Exclusions Policy.
Plagiarism is not condoned at Ashbourne and appropriate action will be taken if it is detected in a student’s work. Plagiarism is defined as using other people’s work, ideas and/or copyrighted material without proper acknowledgement.
Students are advised on how to accurately attribute and acknowledge authors and sources, as well as any use of generative AI (gen-AI) tools in research and production for their work, in order to avoid plagiarism and to produce high quality work.
Students must be aware that plagiarism, including the misuse of gen-AI, in official examinations and assessments constitutes malpractice and may lead to the student being disqualified or debarred from official examination qualifications in the UK.
2. Aims
The aim of this policy is to set out:
4. Plagiarism
4.1 Definition
Plagiarism is defined as using other people’s work, ideas and/or copyrighted material without proper acknowledgement.
Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:
4.2 Avoiding plagiarism
When being set work to complete students will use a variety of sources to help them answer questions; this is seen as an important part of the learning process. However, it is expected that students will use these sources to develop their knowledge which they then express in their own words.
Plagiarism can be avoided by learning how to accurately credit other peoples work and ideas, acknowledging how gen-AI tools have been used in the production of work, properly referencing, critically analysing and assessing the accuracy and validity of sources, crediting copyrighted material and developing your own ideas and ways to present them.
5. Procedure for dealing with suspected plagiarism
5.1 If a member of staff suspects plagiarism within a student’s work (e.g. homework, coursework or UCAS application), the student will be given sufficient time to demonstrate that the work they have produced is their own.
5.2 If, after further investigation, it is clear that the student has plagiarised they will be given the opportunity to redraft the work in their own words and/or images and to properly acknowledge and credit, through direct quotes or otherwise, the original authors and/or sources. The work may then be re-submitted.
5.3 The member of staff handling the case will ensure that they make the student’s Personal Tutor aware of the situation.
5.4 The Personal Tutor will meet with the student to explain and make clear that plagiarism will not be tolerated at the College. This initial offence will be classified as a ‘minor breach’ in the College’s Student Behaviour and Exclusions Policy; the student will be issued a first warning, which will also be communicated to their parents.
5.5 The student will be sent an email to summarise the meeting and they will be sent a copy of this policy.
5.6 If the student continues to plagiarise despite a first warning, the subject teacher will inform the Personal Tutor and typically a disciplinary meeting will be held. The student will likely face disciplinary action which may involve suspension from the College.
5.7 If a student persists in plagiarism despite previous warnings and a suspension, they will be asked to leave the College.
6. Plagiarism as malpractice in examinations and assessments
6.1 Coursework
It is important for students to be able to demonstrate to subject teachers that the coursework they produce for an examination is their own.
In order to meet the criteria of the examination board, it is expected that teachers will be able to see how students have progressed throughout their coursework project. Therefore, any work produced entirely off-site may not be accepted as work to be used within a student’s coursework project. This aspect will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Where plagiarism is suspected in a student’s coursework that has not yet been submitted to the examination board, the student may, depending on the circumstances, be permitted to redraft their work in accordance with the procedures above.
Coursework containing suspected plagiarism which has been officially submitted will be investigated by the examination board. Please refer to the Malpractice and Maladministration Policy (Exams) for further details.
6.2 Online assessments – vivas
Ashbourne students typically sit assessments and examinations either onsite or in designated exam halls. In certain circumstances, however, where this is not possible students will be required to complete assessments online. From September 2025, all internal mock, summer and admissions assessments will be completed on Ashbourne laptops.
Currently, students who sit assessments using their own laptops must be available and prepared to participate in a viva (academic interview), following an online assessment, to discuss the topics covered in the assessment in order to authenticate their work where deemed necessary. For example, students may be asked to explain the methodology behind their answers or respond to alternative questions on the topic. All efforts will be made to help the students feel at ease during these interviews with the knowledge that some find it easier than others to articulate their responses. If it is found, however, that the work is not authentic the student will receive a 0 grade for their assessment and the case will be treated as plagiarism.
7. Resolving disputes around plagiarism
Any dispute concerning the validity of work in relation to plagiarism may be resolved in a disciplinary meeting between the student and a member of the senior leadership team. In the event that the dispute cannot be resolved, and it concerns plagiarism of exam-based coursework, the College may appoint an independent adjudicator.