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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:
Tarkan · 21/05/2024 22:12

JaffavsCookie · 21/05/2024 21:46

@Linnet, what happens if you want to appeal the results? Do they send another certificate, or are appeals not permitted. Sorry, just interested.

They just send out another certificate. Both me and my DD have had second certificates sent out after successful appeals and you use the new one rather than the old one as it has all the other subjects included on it too.

goldenretrievermum5 · 21/05/2024 22:07

rosieposie233 · 21/05/2024 20:12

Why is arranging a courier or driving a 4 hour round trip considered a reasonable solution when the school could simply send them in the post? I i'm genuinely surprised so many of you think this is what I should do

Good grief OP you sound like hard work.

the2andahalfmillion · 21/05/2024 22:05

I agree with you OP. Absolutely ludicrous unless these are conditions imposed by the exam boards, which they might be.

SummerFeverVenice · 21/05/2024 22:00

I’d book a courier. The school can hardly refuse a secure courier that transports embassy documents, original legal documents and valuable manuscripts:
https://hawkcouriers.com/

Riversideandrelax · 21/05/2024 22:00

CharlotteBog · 21/05/2024 21:53

A levels are being sat right now, so I presume the son took these exams last year or even before.

OP, I'm sure in the next 4 or 5 years you or your son will find a way to drive 4 hours and collect them. It's quite odd that there isn't a single person you feel you can ask or trust to do this for you.

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I think it's more odd the school won't just send them.

Abouttimeforanamechange · 21/05/2024 21:57

OP it’s baffling you can’t see it’s in your interest to get your child’s certificates for future uni or job applications

No, it's in her adult child's interests. Let them sort it out. Time to start taking responsibility for their own affairs. Like an adult.

CharlotteBog · 21/05/2024 21:53

HollyKnight · 21/05/2024 21:45

It's only May. Your son can figure it out later.

A levels are being sat right now, so I presume the son took these exams last year or even before.

OP, I'm sure in the next 4 or 5 years you or your son will find a way to drive 4 hours and collect them. It's quite odd that there isn't a single person you feel you can ask or trust to do this for you.

Riversideandrelax · 21/05/2024 21:47

Cicciabella · 21/05/2024 21:38

Ffs state schools have no budget for posting certificates. My school keeps them for the years and you can passby to collect them anytime.

The OP has offered to pay!

JaffavsCookie · 21/05/2024 21:46

@Linnet, what happens if you want to appeal the results? Do they send another certificate, or are appeals not permitted. Sorry, just interested.

HollyKnight · 21/05/2024 21:45

It's only May. Your son can figure it out later.

Riversideandrelax · 21/05/2024 21:45

My DS got his GCSE certificates by post and we haven't moved away or anything. I've had certificates by post too. I don't understand why they won't send them. Certificates are sent by post all the time!

Topofthemountain · 21/05/2024 21:43

DD's friend moved away after their GCSES finished. DD collected them and her friend got them on the next visit up.

We are her friend's 'home' in this area though.

MartinsSpareCalculator · 21/05/2024 21:41

rosieposie233 · 21/05/2024 21:03

School is over 30mins drive from old house, no I am not asking a neighbour. No friends left in area. There is no risk to the school as I would pay for insurance against loss of documents. No I do not want to take a day off work to do this and yes 4 hour drive is too much for me. I am frustrated because I do not believe it would be a big deal for the school.
I can't force my adult children to get their certificates it's just as inconvenient for them as it is for me.
Passports and driving licences get posted and they are more of a risk for fraud.
Thanks for all your opinions.

Yes but passports are posted by an organisation who provide such a service. A school does not. Your son has got 5 years to collect them, so I'm sure he will find the time if he decides he wants or needs them.

LuluBlakey1 · 21/05/2024 21:41

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.

Why didn't you collect them when you lived there?

Topofthemountain · 21/05/2024 21:40

I've just googled "A'level certificate collection" and looked at the random schools that were thrown up. All of them say collect in person OR if someone else they need signed permission plus ID.

I would also check the 5 years, a lot said they'd send them back after a year.

Unless you have very specific reasons to not return to the area i.e risk to life, then you will just have to go.

TeaKitten · 21/05/2024 21:39

rosieposie233 · 21/05/2024 20:12

Why is arranging a courier or driving a 4 hour round trip considered a reasonable solution when the school could simply send them in the post? I i'm genuinely surprised so many of you think this is what I should do

You are asking what legal action you can take but are surprised others suggested the much more reasonable option of courier?

Just go get them, it’s important and they won’t post. Legal action is obviously daft and 2 hours isn’t the other side of the world. They keep them for 5 years so you have time!

MartinsSpareCalculator · 21/05/2024 21:38

I think its a bit weird that you don't know anybody who could nip into the school at some point and get them.

I never collected mine. I never needed them. But you can get them from the exam board anyway.

Cicciabella · 21/05/2024 21:38

Ffs state schools have no budget for posting certificates. My school keeps them for the years and you can passby to collect them anytime.

Shinyandnew1 · 21/05/2024 21:36

It’s important, I presume you don’t want him to have to pay £55 per certificate to replace them, just go and get them.

Taking a day off will cost you far less than legal fees!

Babymamamama · 21/05/2024 21:35

Nobody waste any time on this thread. OP it’s baffling you can’t see it’s in your interest to get your child’s certificates for future uni or job applications. If you really have zero people on your old area that can help you (why oh why?) then go pick them up.

Yesmate · 21/05/2024 21:34

The amount of time you would spend finding out about a courier, researching legal action, calling and contacting the school, you might as well drive to the school and pick them up.

Topofthemountain · 21/05/2024 21:26

Linnet · 21/05/2024 20:35

Yes, the actual certificates arrive by post. Nowadays they can get a text message first thing which tells them their results, which my children both signed up for, and then the certificates arrive in the post later that day. It’s the way it’s always been.

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That's so different to England, the results are just on a print out. (In olden days they came on separate little dockets from each of the exam boards). The certificates aren't issued until sometime after.

Just go and get them OP, or don't.

MrsHamlet · 21/05/2024 21:24

Certificates aren't issued on results day in England.

DownWithThisKindOfThing · 21/05/2024 21:23

ZipZapZoom · 21/05/2024 20:43

That must cost a fucking fortune! Do you have to pay for them to be sent? Also out of pure nosiness what's the policy if they don't actually arrive?

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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.

Moier · 21/05/2024 21:20

Have a day out. We often drive two hours to the coast or country for a day out.. have lunch and then drive two hours back... it's not that far is a two hour drive
Surely it's worth it?