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AIBU?

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Original poster

School won't send certificates

197 replies

rosieposie233 · 21/05/2024 20:03

My son’s school is refusing to post his A level certificates to him even though we have moved out of the area and I have offered to pay for recorded postage. They insist he has to collect them in person or send someone to collect them for him.
It is a 2 hour drive away and it is mad to expect one of us to drive there and back when they could just send them by post. They are being such a jobs worth about it.
Is there any legal action I can take to force them to send them?
They will only keep them for 5 years and do not say what they do with them after that.

OP posts:
Bagwyllydiart · 22/05/2024 06:13

FFS, if you want the certificates, then go and get them.

PickledPurplePickle · 22/05/2024 05:43

YABVU - the school have told you the rules and given you the options

It's a one off trip, OK it's a 4 hour round trip, but that's not that much

And you have 5 years!

Come on, stop being unreasonable and work with the school to find a solution. It's not their fault you have moved away.

DialEmforMurder · 22/05/2024 05:41

This reply has been withdrawn

This post has been withdrawn due to privacy concerns.

Pontipinecity · 22/05/2024 05:39

I totally understand it would be easiest for you if the school sent them out but, like many others I can’t understand how neither you, or your son, or any other potential members of your family haven’t kept in touch with a single trustworthy person who could collect them for you.

In addition, I really value my days off work and wouldn’t be delighted to have to use one of my precious days of annual leave to collect the certificates but it wouldn’t cross my mind to complain if that was the only option (although I would also see if my adult child could get there independently). I’ve done plenty of trips which involve a two-hour journey each way and it’s really not that bad. I assume you chose to leave the area?

NigelHarmansNewWife · 22/05/2024 05:35

Can't your son drive 4 hours to get his own certificates? You could use a courier - we use a bike and car courier at work sometimes. I'm sure they'd facilitate the nominated person with ID part. For something so important I don't really get the flat refusal to go and get them.

Emmerald · 22/05/2024 05:25

These certificates are from last year presumably as this year's exams are yet to be taken. Is there really no one at all your son was friendly with who could collect?
Did you have no friends at all who could pop in to collect and post them to your son?

Has your son contacted the exam board for a certificated statement of results?

Ultimately its down to your son to resolve with the school or exam board.

echt · 22/05/2024 05:20

Also every UK teaching post I've had required sight of my original certificates before starting the job.

echt · 22/05/2024 05:19

nimski · 21/05/2024 23:24

I agree, I'm confused why you even need them. I have no idea where mine are. I never needed to show them for either my degree or Masters nor any job I have ever had.

Show quote history

When I moved to Australia, in order to be recognised as a teacher I had to submit my original certificates as well as transcripts of the course content. I was over 50 by then.

Not all countries or professions will be the same of course.

AussiUnHomme · 22/05/2024 05:04

Firstttimemama · 22/05/2024 00:11

Put in a data subject access request, they will be legally required to provide you with a copy within 30 days

Another person offering advice with limited actual expertise.

A SAR will result in a nice email telling the subject what their result is, not the actual certificate.

AussiUnHomme · 22/05/2024 05:02

HouseofPies · 21/05/2024 20:08

Surely that’s a breach of GDPR as what authority do they have to keep the certificates after the child has left the school?

I’d probably send a sternly worded letter and enclose a stamped addressed envelope.

You clearly have no idea what GDPR is.

Bottom line is that OP needs to make arrangements to collect the certificates. So best option is a nice day out back to their old haunt, or despatch child to collect. Stern letters will just be a waste of time.

andfinallyhereweare · 22/05/2024 02:03

I’ve had to do all sorts of inconvenient things to get something I want/need. This is just part of life. My parents would have expected me to make the journey and if I couldn’t they would have driven me. Yes annoying but just one of those things.

TakeOnFlea · 22/05/2024 00:51

If you want them so much then go and get them. It's really not that hard 🤣

Delphiniumandlupins · 22/05/2024 00:32

DownWithThisKindOfThing · 21/05/2024 21:23

No we don’t pay. I don’t know anyone’s who haven’t arrived. Results day is a big deal postally here! I think RM take on extra staff. I guess SQA must have a policy for missing certificates though.

Show quote history

I think the cost of posting out one envelope to each exam candidate is not much compared to the costs of setting exams, marking them etc. I have worked at the SQA, stuffing certificates into envelopes. Very organised couple of days. I think the fact that Scotland only has one exam board for the whole country may make things easier.

goldenretrievermum5 · 22/05/2024 00:14

Firstttimemama · 22/05/2024 00:11

Put in a data subject access request, they will be legally required to provide you with a copy within 30 days

A copy is pointless. The original certificates are needed

Firstttimemama · 22/05/2024 00:11

Put in a data subject access request, they will be legally required to provide you with a copy within 30 days

Noseybookworm · 22/05/2024 00:00

Presumably your son is an adult and can go and collect his certificates himself? If the school's policy is that they don't post out certificates, I don't see why you seem to think they should make an exception for your son?

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 22/05/2024 00:00

DD’s got sent in the post-we didn’t even request them and we live a 5min walk away.

Mummylovesmonkeys · 21/05/2024 23:56

May have missed, as I have only skimmed, but where is the school? Maybe a generous mumsnetter may be able to collect them and send them on.

iPreferBooks · 21/05/2024 23:46

Your son could go and collect them surely? (16-25 railcard will help). Or make an overnight trip out of it, and go and meet up with some people from the area you moved out of.

QuillBill · 21/05/2024 23:31

The school won't send them and the adult who they belong to won't collect them but you are only angry with the school.

KnickerlessParsons · 21/05/2024 23:28

Could they scan them and email them to you?

nimski · 21/05/2024 23:24

BIossomtoes · 21/05/2024 22:47

I’ve never needed mine, not even for my university applications. I haven’t seen them for decades. No employer has ever asked to see my degree certificate either.

Show quote history

I agree, I'm confused why you even need them. I have no idea where mine are. I never needed to show them for either my degree or Masters nor any job I have ever had.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 21/05/2024 23:19

Would threatening a subject access request work?

StormingNorman · 21/05/2024 22:57

rosieposie233 · 21/05/2024 20:08

Courier? Really?

It’s a more reasonable course of action than taking bloody legal action, which you suggested.

SonicTheHodgeheg · 21/05/2024 22:53

This happened to ds and they posted them free of charge.