Lost qualification certificates- wwyd

[CouldShouldWont]

I know I must have had them as I started new jobs (contracts) in 2020 and in 2021 that needed them - I started a new job in august and they want to see them (should have seen them before I started) and I cannot find them anywhere - I’m not usually this disorganised they’ve been in the same place, in the same folder, for years. Now it’s gone and I seem to have developed an enveloping brain fog that’s stealing my memories.

The problem is that I’m 51 and took my O levels and A levels in the 80s - I can’t remember the exam boards and they don’t reissue certificates- I can probably order degree certificates for my degrees as do remember where I got those!

I’ve wondered if I can ask my last organisation if I can have their photocopies just to prove I have them. Is that possible.

Has anyone been in the same position? And does anyone have any advice?

When I was in the same position I phoned the comprehensive school I attended to ask their advice. I was expecting a load of hassle but they were able to post me a copy of the certificate.

Look at .gov and you’ll find info on there. I had to get duplicate O level certs from 40 years ago last year, my school and exam boards are no longer around.

There’s a process where you put your postcode in from memory, pay about £50 to wherever it directs you to (non refundable if they can’t find anything) whoever has historic details- seven weeks later I received a document.

Not duplicate certs but a statement of achievement or something like that.

I would say you could get them from your previous employer because you could just make a data access request to them? Might not be called that now. But it's your data, your have a right to access it. They will probably think you're a pain but you could get them that way.

I would really check your cupboards/drawer/safe where you keep/kept these certificates as they may have slipped inside another folder eg with a p45/60 in a tax folder or simply be stuck behind/underneath the drawer unit.
Then email your school - they may have copies on file or at least be able to tell your the exam board. If the exam board still exists they are usually willing to help for a small fee. But if you have a degree, surely that would trump o/A levels? As you need those to access a degree course? and be all you require - in which case, contact the university.
Finally pray to the saint of lost items - it can’t hurt.

It's crazy that you need 40-year-old O and A Level certificates. Don't the degrees mean that the school qualifications are superfluous / redundant?
When you do get certificates, take scans of them.

Speak to the 2020 / 2021 contracts because they could possibly have held on to the originals (instead of returning to you) for some reason.

I'd ask your previous employer, you can make a subject access request. I'd make sure you are specific and say you only need the certificates as this will make it a lot quicker.

The exam boards have records and can reissue.

They seriously want o level certificates?

Check what your employer actually NEEDS - where I worked you just needed proof of highest qualifications, plus anything else if it was required for the role. Ask them - don't stress.

We insist on all certificates. Far too many people enhance qualifications without them.

Are you sure your last employer gave the originals back to you?

But 30/40 year old qualifications aren’t likely to be relevant are they. By that point you’re recruiting on experience not a B in O-level Maths. University degree I can see an argument for, or professional qualifications but school quals?

Will they even know what CSEs and O Levels mean? They can’t compare them to the old GCSEs let alone the new ones.

You can’t even compare the old GCSEs from the 80s to the new GCSEs as the grading is so different

I am a bit stressed - currently praying to the patron saint of lost things and the small god of stuff that gets stuck in drawers…

and thank you everyone there a lot of good ideas here - plus it reminded me I’ve actually got photos of them all so I do have the details…. Talking and thinking to others always helps

@UnionGlassCloth of my old school or childhood address? I’ll look it up - thank you I’ll try that too - so frustrating
also I’m not sure I received the originals back from my last employer- I’ve a nasty feeling they may have put them in the internal post where things were never seen again

Crazy that they need to know I got a B in English at O level but there it is! And I’ve been there two months and I might be a fraud!

Not quite sure that anyone would lie to get into my job but still 😂

I work in HE and I’ve only ever needed my degree cert for roles. Are you sure the need GCSEs/O Levels and A Levels from 40 years ago? Aren’t you only as good as your most recent qualification?

How long ago was it that you did your exams @FrogFairy ? This thread has made me realise that I am in the same position as the OP - except I have no idea when I last saw my certificates. I have been employed by the same large public service employee for 35 years but sadly am likely to be job hunting soon.

Agree with PP's advice and add that if someone is undertaking an apprenticeship and the employer uses the levy which means anyone of any age can do the apprenticeship, they could get accredited with recognition of prior learning for the functional skills math & eng elements if able to produce their certificates including in most cases O level is still acceptable. If they can't then it involves them doing the FS math & eng elements as part of their apprenticeship.

Yes. All exam certificates listed. I.thonk in public sector isn't unusual.

I did the exams in 1982\83 and I think I asked asked for the copy certificate in about 2006.
Good luck with your job hunting.

Yes I think this might be the issue. I know they needed the originals which I handed over when I started but I have no memory of the certificates being returned.

They kept me busy enough that my personal admin wasn’t a priority

Tbh my old school O and A level qualifications are totally meaningless anyway - after 40 years I have zero recollection of how to multiply fractions/ do Pythagoras theory or any of the history, art, religious education, Latin exam syllabuses or remember any of those poems memorised by heart. … so a total waste to even ask what the results were!

I can’t remember OP, this link … here.

Mine were needed for a masters, I had a masters already, a degree, other university qualifications and plenty of professional qualifications, but still had to prove that I had Maths and English O level. This was in my second year after getting 65-77% on all my modules for 60% of the course so they knew I could do the maths required for the course and write well.

I went to a rubbish school, absolutely awful, first wave of comprehensive schools in a deprived area. Those O levels mean absolutely naff all as my education started after I left school.

As a teacher, I had to bring in my original certificates from O-level (1971) onwards at every school I've ever worked in.

Ouch. Mine were sighted, possibly photocopied, and handed straight back to me in less than five minutes. I didn't leave the front of office until I got them back.