Can anyone help re. potential passport nightmare (Liverpool office)

[MN216]

Posting here for traffic....

Online application for renewal of DD's passport submitted and photos sent to Liverpool Passport Office c. 19th Feb. We not travelling until 7 April so no problem there. However, she is on a really major deal of a school trip in May and the school are saying they need passport number for booking purposes by next Tuesday or she can't go. I am seeking clarification from the school on this - and have no recollection of being told this deadline before today - but if there is no way round it, I don't know what to do. have rung PO and I may be offered fast track upgrade but may not. If anyone has connections at Liverpool PO and thinks they may be able to help I would be really really grateful if you could PM me - I will drive up there for the day if that's what it takes.

I'm surprised the school aren't getting a group passport for all those on the trip. All the schools in my area get one for any foreign trips as many students don't have a passport and it's expensive if it's inlay needed for one trip with school.

That said, there might be some flexibility in the deadline, school may have given a deadline a week or more before the passport numbers are needed as a buffer. The best thing to do is explain and hope for the best.

When I got my renewal passport a few years ago it took roughly two weeks from sending the application to receiving my new passport.

Wondering if there might be an issue with the photos? Am a counter clerk at post office and have done check and sends on 15 passport applications today, every single childs one (11 out of the 15) needed countersigning as children all change over 5 years (even if we don't think they've changed, a stranger at the airport security who doesn't see them on a daily basis WILL think they've changed.)

Have already had an issue with the photos, which caused a week's delay, because they were sent back on the basis they were too light! I did ring to explain she is actually very pale but they weren't having any of it. The post office I had them done at redid them for free but I could have done without the week's delay since I would probably have had it back by now! Am hoping that if a countersig was necessary I would have heard by now!

Group passports are a pain in the neck, and often not accepted by other countries. Most schools ask students to use their own passport seeing as most kids will have them these days.

Does the passport number change when it is renewed? I thought it just stayed the same.

Ignore me. It does change - the things you learn on here...

Had a problem with passport renewal last summer. I e mailed my MP and asked if there was anything that could be done. 24 hrs later it had been pulled from whatever pile it was in and 2 days later it was in my hot little hand.

Good new update - passport arrived today, and school were happy to extend deadline for info as long as they could, so all good, big phew!! Thanks to all for taking the trouble to post - and thanks to Liverpool passport office for turning it round quickly once the second set of replacement photos were received (first set of replacements never arrived!).