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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:
AlwaysGinPlease · 21/05/2024 20:37

Just drive there ffs. It's not that far.

MrsTerryPratchett · 21/05/2024 20:36

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

But legal action is reasonable?

Urg.

DitheringBlidiot · 21/05/2024 20:36

Can you not just get a certifying statement of results?

It would likely be cheaper than organising a courier. And less hassle too.

leftkneeonbackwards · 21/05/2024 20:36

rosieposie233 · 21/05/2024 20:30

They won't hand it over to a courier apparently, has to be a nominated person with ID.

cross post, ok, then, your sone just goes to get them, honestly, I cant see what all the angst is about - you could have them at home safely by tomorrow lunch time.

TheTartfulLodger · 21/05/2024 20:35

rosieposie233 · 21/05/2024 20:08

Courier? Really?

Well surely it's no more ridiculous than taking legal action? There's honestly not one single person in the family who can suffer a bit of inconvenience and just go and collect them?

Linnet · 21/05/2024 20:35

Notamum12345577 · 21/05/2024 20:24

You sure they get the actual certificates? Or a notification of the results?

Show quote history

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.

leftkneeonbackwards · 21/05/2024 20:34

Who in a school is going to have the time to take your son's certificates to the post office during opening hours? You are expecting the impossible- just drive down and get them, or use a currier service.

AngelQuartz · 21/05/2024 20:34

rosieposie233 · 21/05/2024 20:30

They won't hand it over to a courier apparently, has to be a nominated person with ID.

I know a 4 hour round trip is inconvenient and costly, but, it is the most sensible option for you and DS to collect them. It’s going to have to be one of those “suck it up” moments. There is no point in whinging or complaining about it. Life is full of inconveniences.

Can you imagine if the school could post and send all certificates by couriers? There would be so many that would not turn up, go missing, get mixed up, sent to the wrong student etc. It’s not worth risking.

Ioverslept · 21/05/2024 20:32

If you can't go yourself maybe you can ask any relative/friend/neighbour and pay them expenses and then you know who is will be so you can tell the school.

doubleshift · 21/05/2024 20:32

I would challenge the school robustly on this. Get their complaints policy and make a complaint - they are beingbhugely and unnecessarily obstructive. There is absolutely no reason they can't send them in the post recorded delivery. Jobsworths
Power trip stuff like this to cause inconvenience for no good reason really pisses me off. I'd love to see in writing formally why they can't make use of the post but will use another kid!

Cm19841 · 21/05/2024 20:31

Is there a reason why your son can't make an appointment to pick up, hop on the train to a familiar area and collect his certificates from his old school? Can he do it without help?

Original poster
rosieposie233 · 21/05/2024 20:30

They won't hand it over to a courier apparently, has to be a nominated person with ID.

OP posts:
TheDandyLion · 21/05/2024 20:28

sunflowerfan · 21/05/2024 20:14

At our school the post is collected by Royal Mail so sending them special delivery would mean someone had to take them to the post office.

Royal mail can collect items for special delivery. You just order and pay online in advance.

Original poster
rosieposie233 · 21/05/2024 20:27

I am not doing the third party option, it adds another layer of risk compared to the school sending them.
Does anyone know how I go about using a courier, I have not done this before ?

OP posts:
Littletreefrog · 21/05/2024 20:24

Ioverslept · 21/05/2024 20:16

Could you ask the exam boards to send you a duplicate?

That costs £100 per certificate. Cheaper to drive.

Notamum12345577 · 21/05/2024 20:24

horseymum · 21/05/2024 20:11

In Scotland, everyone gets their certificate through the post on results day and a text with the results first thing. Why do you have to go into school to get them? The postal service is good enough for Scots!

You sure they get the actual certificates? Or a notification of the results?

CurlewKate · 21/05/2024 20:24

@rosieposie233 "No one reliable enough to trust with that and he is not in touch with them really."

How reliable do you have to be????

DownWithThisKindOfThing · 21/05/2024 20:21

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

Well, they won’t send them. So you’ll need to do something else? A courier is more sensible than the legal action you were asking about

TeaandScandal · 21/05/2024 20:19

rosieposie233 · 21/05/2024 20:07

No one reliable enough to trust with that and he is not in touch with them really.

Not a single person from the group he spent (at least) the previous two years with?

ZipZapZoom · 21/05/2024 20:19

Ioverslept · 21/05/2024 20:16

Could you ask the exam boards to send you a duplicate?

That would likely cost a fortune, replacement certificates are not cheap.

FlissyPaps · 21/05/2024 20:18

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

There’s only a few solutions really if the school absolutely can not post them.

A) You or your son go and pick them up.
B) You ask someone you know in the area to collect and post them to you.
C) The (yes really) courier option. Lots of couriers make 4 hour (and more) round trips. Daily. It’s their job.

You sound hard work.

Ioverslept · 21/05/2024 20:17

But agree with others, surely a 4 hour drive would be less cumbersome than legal action

toomanytonotice · 21/05/2024 20:17

Go and get them.

i have just checked online to replace one of dc’s certs as one is currently awol.

£55 to replace one cert. I can understand why schools want to ensure they are placed into responsible hands and not have people coming back blaming them for them going missing in the post.

Jegersur · 21/05/2024 20:17

Pay someone to collect them for you and then they can post them.

Ioverslept · 21/05/2024 20:16

Could you ask the exam boards to send you a duplicate?