Name on GCSEs | Mumsnet

Almahart · 2023-07-13T07:02:00+00:00

Hi, My son's school entered him for GCSEs using the shortened version of his name, think Tom instead of Thomas. Is this going to be a problem and can we get the certificates changed if so? Many thanks

NuttyGinge · 13/07/2023 08:12

I wouldn’t have thought so with a shortened first name. However you just made me realise, my son’s surname is double barrelled but through school he was just known as one of the surnames. I am hoping he put both surnames and if not, that it won’t cause an issue! Got to ask him when he eventually surfaces from bed :)

Quartz2208 · 13/07/2023 08:18

It is common practice for it to be their full legal name so I am surprised.
@NuttyGinge it wouldn’t matter what he put it is matched to candidate number and he would be entered using his full legal name

That said it is their fulllegal name so it matches other documents so they can prove it is their certificates

Notellinganyone · 13/07/2023 09:20

This shouldn’t have happened and I would ask school to sort. Students should have full legal name including middle names on all exam entries.

LotsOfThingsToThinkAbout · 13/07/2023 09:27

It looks like you can get it changed.

Google the examination boards and the info is there or ask the examination officer at your sons school.

Here is a link to Pearson Examination Board info on incorrect details

TeenDivided · 13/07/2023 09:36

Did you not have to check the entry was correct upfront?

Original poster

Almahart · 13/07/2023 11:01

I wasn't asked. It was only when we got the official exam timetable that I saw.

OP posts:

apostrophewoman · 13/07/2023 15:27

He should have been entered using his full legal name, which should also be the name that's on the school's MIS system, and the name you registered him with when he joined the school - you need to check with the school - ask to speak to the exams officer. If he hasn't, it's easy enough to change with the exam boards now so his full name shows on his certificate. Don't wait until the certificates come - just ask the exams officer now. He should have put his full legal name on his papers though.

orangeleavesinautumn · 13/07/2023 17:19

get it changed, it will need to match passport and birth certificate, etc

TriceratopsRocks · 13/07/2023 17:32

I asked school about this as DD goes by her middle name (her choice), but the school has entered her under her first name only. I had assumed they would use her full legal name, including her middle name, which is fine. They say they can't do anything now, but we can get the certificates corrected after we have received them. I would expect that the same applies in your case, OP.

Original poster

Almahart · 13/07/2023 17:45

Thanks I'll give the exam board a call tomorrow. I think it's unlikely that he put his full name on the papers tbh, but hopefully it's reasonably easily sorted

OP posts:

HereSheComesInTheFall · 13/07/2023 18:03

It wont make any difference what he wrote on the papers, it's the name the school entered him with that will be on the certificates. Have you actually checked with the school what name was on the entry?

Original poster

Almahart · 13/07/2023 18:07

I haven't, but ages ago we got a printed out piece of paper from the exam board with the times of all his papers and I noticed then. My life has been a shitshow recently and I just haven't had headspace to deal with this until now

OP posts:

MrsHamlet · 13/07/2023 18:42

Almahart · 13/07/2023 17:45

Thanks I'll give the exam board a call tomorrow. I think it's unlikely that he put his full name on the papers tbh, but hopefully it's reasonably easily sorted

They will probably just refer you back to the centre so it's better to start with them.

Original poster

Almahart · 13/07/2023 18:54

Okay, thanks, that's helpful

OP posts:

KittyMcKitty · 13/07/2023 19:09

Are you sure he was entered with the shortened version? IME students are entered with their full legal name as recorded on SIMS even though they may well have a preferred name recorded on the system which is used for registers and other internal communication.

SunsetGirl · 13/07/2023 19:09

It sounds like if the bit of paper had exam times on it, it'd be produced by the school, not the board. So it's possible school was using preferred name for that but they have submitted full legal name to the boards.

KittyMcKitty · 13/07/2023 19:10

Almahart · 13/07/2023 17:45

Thanks I'll give the exam board a call tomorrow. I think it's unlikely that he put his full name on the papers tbh, but hopefully it's reasonably easily sorted

You need to speak to the school exams officer.

Jellycatrabbit · 13/07/2023 19:12

FWIW, I use my middle name and changed my surname on marriage. My GCSE certificates are in my first name and maiden name. It's never caused me any issues.

GayPareeee · 13/07/2023 19:16

when our school gave out the candidate nos and timetables the students were also asked to check their own personal details and flag it up - is it possible he's already done this and just hasn't told you?

If not then yes you need to speak to the school in the first instance but it definitely needs to match his full legal name

ThanksItHasPockets · 13/07/2023 20:20

Almahart · 13/07/2023 18:07

I haven't, but ages ago we got a printed out piece of paper from the exam board with the times of all his papers and I noticed then. My life has been a shitshow recently and I just haven't had headspace to deal with this until now

This sounds like the statement of entry. We give each student two copies, make sure they check them carefully including their full legal name, and sign both copies to say that this has been done. One copy is returned to school and kept by the exams officer and the other is kept by the student. There should have been something similar in place at your DS’s school. Speak to the exams officer tomorrow.

apostrophewoman · 13/07/2023 20:34

TriceratopsRocks · 13/07/2023 17:32

I asked school about this as DD goes by her middle name (her choice), but the school has entered her under her first name only. I had assumed they would use her full legal name, including her middle name, which is fine. They say they can't do anything now, but we can get the certificates corrected after we have received them. I would expect that the same applies in your case, OP.

That’s completely incorrect, it’s easy for the school to do now, just inconvenient. It’s much more of a pita when the certificates come, they’ll have to be returned and then the exam board will charge the school/you for not having given the correct information in the first place. Phone the school again, speak directly to the exams officer and ask them very firmly to change the name with the exam boards. It’s a ten minute job!!

TriceratopsRocks · 14/07/2023 13:41

Ah ok thank you for this. It was the exams officer that emailed with the info I put above though! Maybe she just didn't want to deal with it :(

MrsHamlet · 14/07/2023 15:18

Our exams officer is currently on annual leave. Yours might be too.

Karatema · 14/07/2023 16:27

My son has a shortened version of his name on all his documents, since his GCSEs, except his passport! It hasn't caused him problems but looks very odd to me!

SabrinaThwaite · 16/07/2023 08:22

SunsetGirl · 13/07/2023 19:09

It sounds like if the bit of paper had exam times on it, it'd be produced by the school, not the board. So it's possible school was using preferred name for that but they have submitted full legal name to the boards.

That was the same in our case - in OP’s example it was Tom on the timetable generated by school but Thomas on the exam entries and on certificates. I did double check with the school though.