Dear KS3+KS4 students,
I hope this message finds you well. Following a long internal trial and phased rollouts, I am pleased to confirm the full implementation of software that reviews your English writing for plagiarism and AI-generated content.
AI-generated content refers to anything written by tools like ChatGPT or Gemini. Plagiarism is the act of copying someone else’s work — from books, the internet, or other sources — and passing it off as your own. The new software automatically checks for both and generates a report alongside your submitted work.
This process is fully automatic. All written work uploaded through Moodle will now be scanned on submission. You don’t need to do anything extra — the report will be visible to both you and me.
Please remember: all written tasks must be submitted as Microsoft Word documents (.doc or .docx). This is a requirement for marking. Every student has been issued a Microsoft 365 login, which includes access to Word. You can still draft in Google Docs or iWork — just make sure you export to a .docx file before uploading. All work must be submitted via Moodle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are you doing this?
Since the launch of ChatGPT, I’ve seen a massive rise in work that wasn’t written by students. The software helps me confirm that what I’m marking is your authentic work. That’s the only way I can teach you effectively and help you grow as a writer.
Am I allowed to use AI?
No. AI might sound clever, but it’s basically just predictive text on steroids. It doesn’t think — it guesses. It frequently makes things up, gets English texts wrong, can’t handle Maths, and lies confidently about Science. I sometimes use it myself for tasks like wording emails, but it is not a valid learning tool.
You won’t have ChatGPT in your exams — and you don’t need it here either. I need to see your thinking, your phrasing, and your writing style. That’s how we improve your skills. AI won’t help us do that.
How will I know if my work has been flagged?
After you upload your file to Moodle, you’ll see an ID number next to your assignment. Within a few minutes, a report bar will appear showing the percentage of content flagged as plagiarised and/or AI-generated.
What if it gets it wrong?
I work on a “green light” system — if your flag is under 8%, I usually won’t even open the report.
If plagiarism is flagged, the system will show me the source it believes you copied from. I’ll look at both your writing and the supposed source. If it’s just coincidence, common phrasing, or quoted text — I’ll ignore it.
If AI is flagged, and you’ve written using your tutor-issued Microsoft Word account, I can check your typing history. I’ll also run your work through other AI detectors and apply teacher judgment.
That might include comparing your writing to previous essays, asking about your ideas, discussing your phrasing in a lesson, looking at whether your ideas reflect your usual understanding, or requesting a timed rewrite in the secure exam browser. I never rely on one tool alone — the final decision is always made with care and fairness.
What about quotes?
Yes, quotes will sometimes be flagged. That’s normal — and not a problem. I’ll ignore anything clearly used as part of your analysis.
Aren’t AI detectors wrong?
Sometimes — and that’s exactly why I don’t rely solely on them. I always pair detector results with my own teacher judgment. That means checking your typing history (if you’re using a tutor-issued Microsoft account), assessing your usual writing style, setting secure browser tasks, and asking questions about your ideas. One false flag will never be the sole reason your work is rejected.
Why is academic integrity important?
Because I’m not here to just mark — I’m here to teach. If I’m marking something that isn’t your writing, then I’m giving feedback to an AI, not to you.
I want you to feel proud of the work you’ve done and the progress you’re making. No one expects perfection — but we do expect honesty.
What are you really checking for?
I’m checking for two things only: content that has clearly been copied from another source (like the internet), and content that has clearly been written by AI tools instead of by you. It’s that simple.
What happens if I’m flagged?
It depends on the reason and the severity.
If it’s plagiarism and the system has just picked up quotes or harmless phrasing, I’ll approve the work without issue.
If it shows that sections have been clearly copy-pasted — and I can identify the source — I’ll reject the essay, email home the report, and arrange a meeting to discuss it.
If AI is flagged, I’ll check the report using multiple detectors. I’ll also apply teacher judgment — comparing with previous work, asking about your ideas, reviewing phrasing, or setting a timed rewrite in the secure exam browser. If you’re using your tutor-issued Microsoft Word account, I may also review your typing history.
If I’m confident it’s your work, I’ll approve it. If not, I’ll reject the submission, email the report home, and follow up with a meeting.
What happens if I continue to breach academic integrity?
If repeated or serious concerns arise, I’ll refer to the formal process set out in my tuition policy. This may include permanent removal from tuition in line with my Terms and Conditions.
Please see the full Academic Integrity Policy available on my website.
I’ve been flagged and didn’t do anything. Now what?
Don’t panic. If you haven’t used AI or plagiarised, just leave it. These tools aren’t perfect — and I’ll be the one making the final call.
I used AI and/or I plagiarised, and I know it. What now?
If the assignment hasn’t locked yet, you can delete your submission in Moodle. This removes the file and the report, and allows you to resubmit correctly.
What else might cause a false flag?
Using advanced writing enhancement tools can sometimes trigger the checker. This includes Microsoft Editor, Grammarly, Apple Intelligence, Quillbot, and similar spelling and grammar tools. You are strongly advised to disable these while writing your work.
What do I need to do differently?
Nothing. Just upload your Word file to Moodle like normal — the system works automatically behind the scenes. You can check your report if you want to, but you don’t have to. Just make sure your spelling/grammar tools are switched off before you submit.
How do I submit a Word document?
Nothing has changed. Upload your work to Moodle. If you need help, the updated Moodle User Manual is available on my website.
You can draft in Google Docs, Pages or other tools — just make sure you save it as a .docx file before uploading.
I got an email about a plagiarism account. What is it?
When your first assignment is scanned, you’ll automatically be given a plagiarismcheck.org account.
You’re welcome to log in and view your reports, but it’s not essential — everything you need is already on Moodle.
Let me know if you have any questions — and thank you for continuing to show integrity in your work.