One school wants report cards, the other a 'conduct certificate'. Normal for class 8?

jade_compass_118426 Jul 2026

Our son's current school stops at class 7, so we're looking elsewhere for class 8 next year. We visited two schools and came back with two very different checklists. One wants the last two years' report cards. The other wants a conduct certificate signed by the principal. I work in a school and even I had to look that one up. Is it something every school issues on request, or do we need to ask early? I'd rather it wasn't the first thing his current school hears about our plans.

2 comments

mellow_kettle_535426 Jul 2026
No idea for class 8, ours is still a toddler, but the nursery forms we've started looking at already want a birth certificate, the vaccination card and two photos 'with both parents'. Every school seems to have its own list and nobody explains why. Hope the current school is gracious about it ❤️
- willow_fern_28227 Jul 2026
  Photos with both parents are very common for nursery, nothing to worry about. Our son's school wanted a white background, so we stood against the bedroom wall and our son leaned out of the frame every single time.
sunny_pebble_286327 Jul 2026
We were asked for this too when our son changed schools for class 8. It turned out to be a standard one-paragraph letter the office prepares; ours called it a character certificate. We requested it along with the transfer certificate, after admission was confirmed. Before that we only shared report cards. Check with the school you're applying to if it can wait till the seat is confirmed.
- jade_compass_118429 Jul 2026
  That's reassuring. Asked the new school and yes, it can come with the TC once he has a seat. One less awkward conversation for now.