Might have accidentally exaggerated on my job application...

[TooMuchCheesecake]

I filled out a job application form (for a lunchtime supervisor job at my children’s primary school) a couple of weeks ago. On the qualifications section I listed all of my 10 GCSEs but wrote down the grades from memory.
The thing is I have been invited for an interview and have been asked to take copies of my qualifications with me. I have no idea where my GCSE certificates are, and also I’m worried that I may have given some of the wrong grades.
I haven’t needed to show the certificates in all my previous jobs so they haven’t been seen since I left school (18 years ago!).
Not sure what to do about this at the interview now?!

I believe you need to contact the exam board and they can give you copies

Seriously, they are asking for certificates for a lunchtime supervisor job?

Contact the exam board, I imagine really they only want to see english and maths. I’ve interviews lunchtime staff before and never asked to see certificates though. Does the role involve classroom support too - some lunch staff hear readers etc.

Don't the grades expire anyway for maths and English possibly. They are being nuts. Go for the interview.

Probably just a standard email they send for all candidates. Explain you haven’t got the certificates, if they insist then you can order copies as PP said.

The exam boards can do you copies but they're £30/40 a pop. I would give your old school a call and see if they could do you a letter on headed paper to confirm that you studied there and what your exam results were.
Then at the interview just explain and ask if a letter from your old school would suffice. For a lunchtime supervisor role you might get away with it if they are being sensible.
I work in a school and we get at least 1 or 2 people a month asking us to do this and always oblige. Our exam records go back to the early 80s. It's not uncommon.
In the mean time look for your certificates!

Agree it sounds like a standard reply. I've never even had to show proof of my degree when applying for a job, let alone GCSE's! Like you I'm pretty sure I know what grades I got for what, but it was a long time ago and I'd be worried I may have got one wrong.

GCSEs don't expire. There was a rule for some apprentices that any more than 5 years old would expire and not count, but this rule has now been overturned and no longer applies.

So my GCSEs from 1989 are all still valid. My mum's O levels from the 60s are still valid.

It's not that they expire, just that an employer shouldn't assume you still have those skills. For instance if someone got a GCSE in French twenty years ago, an employer shouldn't expect them to speak French now.

I lost my certificates when I moved house and I had to go to a solicitor's office and swear that I had them. I took that document to my workplace and all was OK then.

That's really weird - I have been in professional city jobs for 15 years and not once have they asked for certificates - which is good because I've not seen any of them in close on 20 years. I don't know how you can exaggerate your grades accidentally - I remember all mine ....

I’m surprised you can’t remember your grades. I’m 58 and I can tell you every one of my o level grades.

Does the role require the qualications? I doubt it very much, it is probably a standard application form used for all vacancies. Unless the job description specifies particular qualifications I wouldn’t worry. It is quite reasonable for you not to be able to lay your hands on them after 18 yrs. However, where qualifications are an explicit requirement, the employer can obtain /check them with the issuing body. What is important whether or not the quals are needed is that you aren’t shown to have actively lied. If they are discussed at interview just say you think the grades are right but you can’t really remember. Give the interview your best shot, read the brief and prepare thoroughly how you come across as a person will be far more important.

go to the interview and don't mention the qualifications, if they do say you have to dig them out, then worry about it.

It’s an absolute requirement for all jobs in schools.

Those who are reacting with shock that a lunchtime supervisor might be expected to have a string of qualifications, are entirely missing the point.

Schools have to hold a single central record which is accurate. To put this in perspective, Ofsted can immediately ‘fail’ a school and put them into RI if the safeguarding isn’t watertight.

So, it’s fine to go for a lunchtime supervisor job and say you honestly can’t remember your grades and the chances are, the school won’t be bothered about following them up for this level of job. However it’s not fine to just make up grades for the reason above

I've never had a job where I didn't have to provide copies of my exam certificates. My mind is blown at people saying they've never been asked for them. How do employers know you actually have the qualifications?

I couldn’t even tell you what GCSEs I took never mind the grades. I’m 42.

I guess you’ll just have to try and order copies. Do you have A levels or a degree? Usually you just get asked for whatever you studied last.

GCSE certificates for a dinner lady job?! Are they having a laugh?
Why would GCSEs be necessary for any job in a school? That's nonsense. Caretaker? Cleaner?

She can't order copies of all of them at £30-40 each!!! £300+ just to start a minimum of age job?

I would just go for the interview, bowl them over with your answers and personality At the end explain that you are unable to locate the certificates, it won't be the first time this has happened with job applicants. Due to the role they'll be looking at your specific skills for the role rather than your exam results.
Good Luck!!

What if you can't remember the exam board for each exam?

What if you can't remember the exam board for each exam?

How would you fill the form in in the first place? Surely they ask for that in the application form?

I can't remember ever having to fill in the exam board. Just whether its a GCSE and grade.

Local Authority applications are a bit crazy - it’ll be a blanket policy covering from the CEO downwards. Just say you can’t find the certificates.

Read the thread adalind.
She doesn’t need strings of qualifications for a lunchtime supervisor job. The school does need to have accurate records.
It will most likely be fine for the school to appoint someone who isn’t claiming loads of GCSEs. It is absolutely not fine for a school to hold records which are inaccurate.

This thread is an eye opener into the ignorance around safeguarding in schools.