How to find the Examining body for a copy of my GCSE results?
Posted by Practical-Moose3823@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 25 comments
Im looking at obtaining a copy of my GCSE results from 1994 but need to know which examining body was used at my school back then so I can apply directly to them. I went to Earl Marshal School in Sheffield and that school doesn't exist now so can't ask them. Only option I have is applying directly to the examining bodies which involves a separate fee for each one, or finding out which one was actually used at my school. The other way is if someone with GCSE papers from the same school checks there certificate, but I've lost contact with everyone I knew back then!
Psy_Crow_Si@reddit
I know this is a month old but did you find out the info you needed? I'm in a similar situation.
Practical-Moose3823@reddit (OP)
Yeah I sent emails to 3 of the exam boards and 2 have got back to me. One doesn't hold anything and the other has my English results, so I'm hoping the third exam board get back soon with maths and science.
Psy_Crow_Si@reddit
Wow it's still going on? It's crazy it takes this long just to verify such a small piece of information.
How much have you had to pay so far?
Practical-Moose3823@reddit (OP)
Not paid anyone yet, just sent them an email asking if they hold my results. If they do then I pay to get a copy.
Like I said before one did reply which was AQA, they sent me an email with a copy attached but red watermark across it, just used chat gpt to remove that! I mean it should be ok but if not I'll know now where I can get a copy of my English results from. Just waiting on maths now.
Imaginary_Fuel1042@reddit
The examination boards should tell you. I asked WJEC for mine a few years back, specifically looking for maths and science. They contacted before payment to say they didnt have my maths and must have taken them somewhere else.
cavagin@reddit
Funnily enough im in the exact same situation right now, except english and science. Did you find out who did your maths and science?
Imaginary_Fuel1042@reddit
Yes I emailed my high school. I asked wjec first as at the time I didnt think my school would have them since I left in 2009/2010ish. I just asked what examination board they used for maths & science whilst I was there and fortunately they kept them on record and was able to send them through. Mine were done with AQA. If your uk based and have already contacted your school and had no luck try AQA and exedel/pearsons
Serious_Badger_4145@reddit
Are you looking for a particular subject? Because my gcse's used 3 different examining board. Bit later than yours tho so maybe it changed
sockhead99@reddit
Two ways. 1) Make an information request to the LEA that your school was in - they may have records as to which exam board was used. 2) make individual requests to exam boards. As another has said, the regional exam board in Sheffield merged with AQA, so that's a good place to start
Practical-Moose3823@reddit (OP)
Made subject access requests to all 3, thank you
UniquePotato@reddit
Have you tried contacting your old school?
Practical-Moose3823@reddit (OP)
If you mean the local council then yes I have and they couldn't help unfortunately. I've emailed AQA as others on here have said so will see.
No-Introduction3808@reddit
Have you tried contacting old school friends/people?
Practical-Moose3823@reddit (OP)
School doesn't exist it shut down in 1998, lost contact with most of the people I knew
itsnotmyreddit@reddit
There are four exam boards that offer GCSEs now. I think three of them are what remains from mergers from those that offered GCSEs in the 90s - Edexcel (Pearson), OCR and AQA. Might be worth trying the other two as well as AQA because if schools in the 90s are anything like they are now, they offer qualifications across the exam boards based on the specs they prefer for the subjects they offer.
Practical-Moose3823@reddit (OP)
Thank you, I've made a subject access request to all 3
Sea-Ad-527@reddit
A quick google shows the examining body would have likely been the Northern Examinations and Assessments Board (NEAB) in the 1990s which had offices in Sheffield and Harrogate and seemed to be the main examiner in that area.
The NEAB then became AQA in 2000.
Maybe contact the Sheffield City Council education records team as sometimes LEAs keep archives of which boards schools used.
ProfessorYaffle1@reddit
Good starting point, but bear in mind that schools weren't required to use a local board. I did my GCSEs in the South West and at least 3 of them were NEA.
TRy contacting the exam baords and ask - they may be able to to give general info or even confirm if they have records for you, and only charge when you order a duplicate certificate.
Another otprion is to se if there are any FB groups or the school/ year and ask - it doesn't matter whether you have kept in touch with individuals, if you can find a group for former pupils then someone may remember and be able to tell you
Sea-Ad-527@reddit
No I know they weren’t required but it would be my first guess!
I had a similar situation (though my GCSEs were in 2008) and I couldn’t get any information from AQA or edexcel. It was pay the fee, and if I had certs they would send them.
Mental_Body_5496@reddit
Best advice 👌
BoomalakkaWee@reddit
If there's a Facebook group for your city or even your old neighbourhood, why not post asking if anybody else who attended Earl Marshal School in the early 1990s can tell you which exam board they used for GCSEs?
Once you have the info, here are a couple of helpful links:
https://www.gov.uk/replacement-exam-certificate
https://www.gov.uk/replacement-exam-certificate/if-your-old-exam-board-no-longer-exists
cowboysted@reddit
I manage these requested for an AO and we usually check for free, but only charge for the certificate. try emailing them to see if they have any record of you.
Weary_Bat2456@reddit
There's not that many exam boards in general now so it's worth just emailing them all by trial-and-error. Not sure if there are any that existed in 1994 that are defunct now but you should be able to.
Since your school doesn't exist, it might be worth contacting the education service in Sheffield Council?
PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit
You could try and find a local Facebook group where someone might know.
Even my highly insignificant state comp school has an 'ex-pupils' group on Facebook.
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