Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Original poster

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

84 replies

everythingcrossed · 20/07/2022 16:12

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 Hmm

OP posts:
ihavenocats · 20/07/2022 17:20

Firstly I say just don't get it then. What do you need it for?

Come to think of it, any job I've gone for where I mentioned my degree they've not once checked. I could have completely made my degree up for every single job I've had.

The only people who ever checked it was an overseas employment agency and a post-grad course. But still, no one needed any certificate, just notarised results letter.

Secondly, if you want it, ask for an itemised bill. But it's not much. I had to pay for my birth certificate recently and had to pay a tenner and didn't really mind.

blametheparents · 20/07/2022 17:27

That is so cheeky of the school, and not something that you should have to pay for.

For reference, your DC may well need those certs.

My DS has just finished his degree and he needs to provide his new employer with certs for GCSE English and Maths, certs for A levels and cert for his degree.

NewCatName · 20/07/2022 17:41

Never heard of this before, bloody cheek.
My DC - 3 went in at an allocated time to collect and 1 (different school) wouldn’t go, so I had to go and get them.

RoseslnTheHospital · 20/07/2022 17:50

The school is most definitely not allowed to make a profit from charging students fees.

Rather than assume the school is "grabby" and high handed, why don't you contact the school's exam officer and ask why they need to make this charge? Or ask them what provisions are in place for students whose families can't afford to pay the £10?

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 20/07/2022 17:52

Very odd. I would certainly be querying this, and probably with the LEA rather than the school.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 20/07/2022 17:55

ihavenocats · 20/07/2022 17:20

Firstly I say just don't get it then. What do you need it for?

Come to think of it, any job I've gone for where I mentioned my degree they've not once checked. I could have completely made my degree up for every single job I've had.

The only people who ever checked it was an overseas employment agency and a post-grad course. But still, no one needed any certificate, just notarised results letter.

Secondly, if you want it, ask for an itemised bill. But it's not much. I had to pay for my birth certificate recently and had to pay a tenner and didn't really mind.

Actually, I've had to show my degree certificate to my employer, and once had to show my GCSE Maths and English certificates for a student summer job (although they didn't seem to have cottoned on that I wouldn't be at university without having passed those 🤦‍♀️)

BooksAndHooks · 20/07/2022 19:58

They are expensive to replace, who is responsible for them when they inevitably go missing in the post?

Original poster
everythingcrossed · 20/07/2022 20:01

RoseslnTheHospital · 20/07/2022 17:50

The school is most definitely not allowed to make a profit from charging students fees.

Rather than assume the school is "grabby" and high handed, why don't you contact the school's exam officer and ask why they need to make this charge? Or ask them what provisions are in place for students whose families can't afford to pay the £10?

I wanted to make sure this was not usual practice before I contacted the school. I will be in touch with them once the exam board replies to me regarding whom the certificates belong to Smile

OP posts:
FAQs · 20/07/2022 20:33

@everythingcrossed we had to pay £49!

TeenDivided · 20/07/2022 20:36

@FAQs state or private?

FAQs · 20/07/2022 22:25

@TeenDivided state!

Original poster
everythingcrossed · 21/07/2022 07:48

@FAQs Was there any pushback from the parents? That seems crazy.

OP posts:
TeenDivided · 21/07/2022 07:53

www.aqa.org.uk/exams-administration/after-results/exam-certificates says 'give them to students without delay'

DanglingMod · 21/07/2022 07:54

No, it is 100% not right for schools to do this. The certificate belongs to the child, not the school. We've often wished we could use the threat of withholding exam certificates if students have not returned text books/library books etc but the exam board would have a lot to say if they got wind; they are not ours to withhold.

And, yes, you do need the actual certificates, not just the results slips. Lots of employers will ask to see the origins including, very ironically, all schools (even if you have higher level quals).

WinterMusings · 21/07/2022 07:55

Sweetmotherofallthatisholyabov · 20/07/2022 16:22

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

Errr...no. It's not a birth certificate and it's not a replacement copy.

TeenDivided · 21/07/2022 07:59

@everythingcrossed I think this will help you:
www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/General-Regulations-2020-2021-Version-for-website.pdf Look at section 5.14 (p21, page 24 of the pdf)

^distribute certificates to all candidates without delay and regardless of any disputes (such as non-payment of fees). Certificates must not be withheld without prior permission from an awarding body which will only be given in very
exceptional circumstances. A record should be kept of the certificates that are
issued;^

TheTeenageYears · 21/07/2022 08:01

The school will be taking on a massive liability by posting them all. It's made very clear that you can't get duplicates so what the hell are they going to do if they insist on posting them all and any go missing of which there is a very strong likelihood? Focus on the liability rather than the cost, it might be the quicker way to make them think twice.

Hiyawotcha · 21/07/2022 08:07

We paid a similar amount for dd’s. Also state. In London. I didn’t really question it - not sure what would have happened if we hadn’t paid. I think the certificates come once they’re in sixth form, after the results of I recall correctly (not that dd had resits). Also paid a similar sum for A level certs. Same school. Not sure what the arrangement with ds’s school will be - expect the same to be honest.

Original poster
everythingcrossed · 21/07/2022 08:16

@TeenDivided you're brilliant - thanks so much. Writing to the school now!

OP posts:
JunoTheJellyFish · 21/07/2022 08:19

The degree certificates will be checked, put into a hard A4 envelope and then need postage. Plus there's the staff time of doing all that.

gogohmm · 21/07/2022 08:22

I had to pay 30 years ago for postage. You could collect for free. Reread it - does it say if you would like the certificates posted?

TeenDivided · 21/07/2022 08:25

JunoTheJellyFish · 21/07/2022 08:19

The degree certificates will be checked, put into a hard A4 envelope and then need postage. Plus there's the staff time of doing all that.

That's not the point. That is something state schools should be doing as part of 'free' education. The JQC link I posted up above makes it pretty clear they aren't allowed to withhold.

Paigeworkerx · 21/07/2022 08:27

My high school did a ceremony to hand them to everyone. We all came back in October got up on stage and we’re handed them.

Sixth form picked them up the school.

Seems like they’re giving them-self an unnecessary hassle.

Also certificate are using sent to schools/ sixth forms September/October time for people saying their children hadn’t had theirs yet.

RampantIvy · 21/07/2022 08:27

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

You should have done @FixTheBone. I sat my O levels in 1975 and A levels in 1977 and have all of my certificates.

I think the school is taking the piss OP. DD's old chool has presentation evenings for GCSE and A level certificates. Similar in a way, I suppose, to a graduation ceremony.

UnicornMadeOfPinkGlitter · 21/07/2022 08:33

In august all they will receive will be printouts and a letter from the school with a table of the results.
then in October time once all the certificates have arrived they should make arrangements for the collection of certificates.
if this is a school in England there will not be any certificates to collect as the exam boards don’t send them out until quite late. Usually once the appeal process end date.
I have not heard of a college or uni not accepting the letter from the school detailing the students results. I have heard of charging for posting results and a lot of schools will charge an admin fee on top. If sent special delivery there is not much profit from £10 though.
I would be asking for the letter/email to be made much clearer about what exactly it is they are charging £10 for.