Presenting Birth Certificate to Primary School

[MickeyMouseEars]

DC started in reception last week and on day 2 the teacher told us they needed to see DC's birth certificate. Unfortunately I have mislaid it somewhere but DC does have a current, valid UK passport. I asked if this would be acceptable and she said that she would check. I haven't heard anything since, until this morning when the school office called about it. I explained that I didn't have it to hand, would a passport be ok and was told no. I don't really care tbh, I was just waiting for an answer re. the passport and have already ordered a copy but the woman was so bloody rude to me about it and kept trying to justify why it had to be a BC and not passport (I didn't ask her to). Her reasons were that it was to submit to the council and that it had to be an official document showing DOB, which in my opinion a passport is... I'm not going to do anything about it as new BC is on its way but was just wondering whether she is right, or whether a passport would have in fact been fine?

She sounds like a jobsworth

I had the same issue, and passport was accepted. They ask for birth certificate because every child should have one (ok, refugees might not, and so there would need to be a work-around for them too) but it's not compuisorty to have a passport. But if you do then yes, it's valid ID that proves date (and place) of birth

For the last few years our LA insist on a birth certificate. One of the reasons is that we have to record who has parental responsibility.

A full birth certificate gives parents names for cross referencing which a passport doesn’t.

I'm not sure schools can insist of a full form birth certificate. It's against the law to have charges for entry to state school and surely that would include forcing parents to buy the full form version

@RoseAndRose

I'm not sure schools can insist of a full form birth certificate. It's against the law to have charges for entry to state school and surely that would include forcing parents to buy the full form version

Maybe it’s changed but when I registered my DCs (23 and 18 years ago) I was given a full form certificate only. I’ve worked in school offices for a long time and never been offered anything but a full form birth certificate so I assumed that the short ones weren’t dine anymore (I’ve got one but that’s over 50 years old).

My son is 17 and my daughter 19 and we were offered either. Consequently we only have the short free one for dd but the full one for Ds as the registrar told us the rules had changed and if he ever needed a passport he’d need the full certificate.

Similar timing.

We were offered a full form but had to pay for it. Only one copy of the short form was free.

Something that remains the case, so would have been in force when this year's reception joiners were registered.

Yes, you do need full form to apply for a passport, but that's a completely different thing, for which a fee is permitted. Unlike school,entrance where it isn't

This hostile environment bullshit drives me mad.

The short form free cert should be enough, passport should be enough.

you can order a copy of the birth certifice from the registry office.

the bc is not to show identity but to show anyone with parental responsibility.

Short form doesn't have parents on it though...how can a school be sure of PR?

@purplesequins

you can order a copy of the birth certifice from the registry office.

the bc is not to show identity but to show anyone with parental responsibility.

But it doesn't show that, it only shows parents registered at birth...

@BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou

For the last few years our LA insist on a birth certificate. One of the reasons is that we have to record who has parental responsibility.

A full birth certificate gives parents names for cross referencing which a passport doesn’t.

Thanks, that does make sense as to why they may want a BC over a passport.

For some of the other PPs, I wasn't given an option between short and full BC when I ordered a copy, so I don't think they do the short ones anymore.

Both types are still available when you register a birth but you now have to pay for them regardless, so it makes no sense not to get the full one. The fees were brought in November 2017 so reception aged children born in September and October may not have a full birth certificate

DC goes to indy and we were never asked for a copy of birth certificate. They did ask for passport, however. I suppose this was because they have a lot of international students, and so were checking their eligibility to reside in the UK.

About a year ago, we were asked to provide another passport update (no idea why, as DC is British and we presented a British Passport). but still no request for birth certificate.

At application for Reception entry point, however, we did apply for a State school place (and were allocated one) through the usual channels. They never asked for a copy of birth certificate either. I suppose this was because we had lived in the borough before having DC and we were on their books already, so to speak, through Health Visitor etc.

As you say, your school's attitude does sound quite officious.

As PPs have said it’s to confirm parental responsibility in the case of needing that official information. Sorry the office were rude to you...like gp receptionists school ones are not to be crossed!!

A birth certificate does not confirm parental responsibility (which can change or be added to) as it is limited to how things stood at the time of the birth or re-registration.

Schools should not stipulate that they should be presented with the detailed Birth Certificate and if you have another form of ID that shows the Date of Birth that is fine.

The school should not take a copy of the ID, just record that they have seen it and verified the DoB. It is not necessary to keep a copy so against GDPR. It is only necessary to see it.