The return of September means the return of school and what comes with it, the longer traffic jams, school uniforms and books but most of all the dreaded homework. While majority of students are good and hand up their assignments on time, there is always one who will do anything to get of doing any actual work.

While many teachers have commented if some students actual put as much effort into their work as they do in making up excuses to avoid it, they’ll be getting A1′s. However while the common excuses “such as I left my book in my longer”, or “I have it done, I swear, its just, I was rushing and I left etc..” or the classic “my dog ate my homework.”

However, it seems students are becoming more imaginative than ever with their homework excuses many involving ghosts and international espionage.

British lecturer John Curry said he has heard of students being declared dead, erupting volcanoes and the outbreak of civil war just to avoid getting in trouble for not handing up assignments on time.

The City of Bath College computer expert said many of the unusual explanations for not completing work were from students looking for 24 hour extensions.

‘Some of the excuses seem pretty improbable, but when you have someone’s death certificate in their hands, you have to accept their excuse,’ Mr Curry said.

One student even claimed he had wrongly been arrested for being a Chinese spy before being released just in time to plead for a deadline extension.

Another was granted an extension because the Indian government had attempted to seize his home after he had been declared legally dead.

While the majority above seem improbable, the excuse below whilst being the most ridiculous, it’s probably the most honest one too, with one student claiming that he was ‘..was grieving over the death of my World Of Warcraft character.”

However one student did manage to gain some extra time after convincing the lecturer they were bring spooked by a ghost.

‘That person genuinely believed there was a ghost and I actually accepted their word and gave them a few more hours,’ he explained.

‘I’m actually more sympathetic to someone who just says “I have not done the work” because they are being honest. I might give them a few more hours. However, that is very, very rare – it’s only happened on one occasion.’

So while the above excuses are hilarious and just plain strange, perhaps honesty is the best policy. However many students wouldn’t have to face the awkward conversation with their teacher in the first place if they  just actually did and handed in their work on time, then again it’s easier said then done and probably not as fun.