School says we have to pay to receive GCSE certificates - surely this isn't allowed?

[everythingcrossed]

My child attends a state secondary school in London - he has just finished his GCSEs and is staying on for sixth form there. We have just had a letter saying that in order to receive the GCSE certificate with his results - he will receive the actual results in August but this is the official certificate once everyone has had their grades appealed etc - he will have to pay £10. I know it's not a lot of money but I think it's a huge cheek - he will be at the school, all he has to do is walk to the office, at an arranged time if they choose, and collect it. I feel the school is often high-handed and grabby, but I'm really furious about this, they seem to be holding his certificate to ransom

Posted too soon - can the school do this?

It sounds as though their basic results letter is to be collected on results day, but if they want a special certificate it has to be sent off for especially? As long as the results are in writing on results day, I don't think you need an extra certificate.

How are they justifying it? That seems outrageous.
If the year group is 250 that would be 2.5k just for passing on something that belongs to the students.

I have never heard of this before. Ridiculous

Is it the same as paying for a copy of your birth certificate?

I have never heard of this it doesn’t seem right as you need the actual certificate. Our school will not post them out you have to collect them or send written permission for someone to collect on your behalf.

That's most peculiar OP.

Are you sure it isn't charging for postage for those who won't be able/willing to collect the certificates?

You do need the certificates from time to time.

@PutinIsAWarCriminal it's not a "special certificate", it's the actual certificate given by the exam board. There are many situations in life where originals of gsce certificates are required, even if you have gone on to get a-levels and degrees, and it's a faff to get replacements later in life. So the results letter is absolutely not enough and the child is entitled to the certificate

Op, the exam board will issue the certificates to the school regardless of whether this random fee is paid, I can't see how the school can justify holding on to a piece of paper that has been issued to your child. I would definitely take this up with them, it's outrageous. The school don't print the certificates, the exam board do, so they can't even claim it covers their printing costs

Actually, looking on the Internet, the slips are more easily forged so the certificate is essential. I didn't know that. I would get a few parents together and complain strongly. The school have no right to hold result certificates to ransom.

Certificates from the exam boards usually arrive around November after results. They ARE needed and in 20 years of teaching in a state school, I have never heard of a child being charged. I have, however, been asked to supply my own GCSE certificates when applying for university and my 18yo DS has been asked to provide his for his first full time job since college.

OP, you need to clarify with the school what exactly that covers?

I never got certificates (1996) just two pieces of a5 dot matrix printer spool with the grades listed.

I had to show my O level (and A level and degree) certificates when I adopted. Not to prove how educated I was, but to prove my honesty in what I was telling SS.

It is to pay for postage and administration. There is no option to collect the certificate, even for those still attending the school.

Is it for amended or re-sit results?

Ours has an awards night in Nov when they hand them out. If you want them posted you pay for that.

Reading it back, I can see that I wasn't clear. I meant by "All he will have to do is walk to the office..." that this would be a fairer alternative.

I'm pleased IABU

Gah IANBU

Actually you’ve made me realise I don’t think my DD has been given her GCSE certificates. I’ll have to get her to ask the school where they are.

This is getting sillier by the moment! They can't just go and collect them?? There must be a reason. I wonder if they have had a few years worth of students 'losing them' so have decided to post them all? It's still silly, though.

It is for their final results (Including those of people who appealed their grades and had them changed). For whoever made the point, there are about 300 students in each year group so, yes, quite a profit to be had. @Piggywaspushed I would have thought it was riskier to entrust the certificate to the Royal Mail than to the student...

I have sent an email to the exam board asking for clarification regarding whether the school or the student owns the exam certificate.

Check whether the exam board will provide a certificate for you directly, or a copy, subject to something that proves you are who you are.

Merely asking and saying why might get the amount dropped.

Or just remind the school (copy the Governors and your MP perhaps) that £10 or say £20 for twins is discrimination against those on a low income. Remind them of the campaigns to ensure children have adequate meals in school holidays. Not everyone in London is rich.

Actually posting it has risk for those who move, or indeed given the possibility of postal strikes.

OK. Postage can be saved by him collecting them .
A charge for administration? A member of staff in the office putting them into an envelope? That's part of their job that they are paid for.
In fact, GCSE qualifications are the whole point of secondary school, so it's not even like you can opt to not have them- and therefore the certificates are not able to be withheld. Surely they belong to the child, not the school. This is fucking outrageous.