You need a copy of the school record, and the issuing screen offers a viewing copy alongside other types. Here is which to choose, where to obtain it, and what to do if the contents are wrong.

Where the school record is issued

There are three routes. Choose according to purpose.

• The government services portal — issued and printed online. This is the route most people use
• Visiting the school — while enrolled, or where the original needs to be verified
• Self-service civil affairs kiosks — printable at institutions where they are installed

Graduates can obtain it too. Where the school has merged or closed, however, it must be done through the school that received the records or the district office of education.

A parent obtaining a child's record needs the guardian relationship confirmed. This is generally possible for minors, but a child who has reached adulthood must apply personally or grant authority.

The difference between the viewing copy and the submission copy

This is the most common confusion.

Recipients frequently specify the format they require. Confirm where it is going first and obtain the matching type. Submitting a viewing copy and having to obtain another is a common detour.

One more point: the items shown vary with the stated purpose. For some purposes it is issued with certain items omitted. Once you have it, check that the items you need are actually present.

What it contains

• Personal and enrolment details
• Attendance
• Awards and qualifications
• Creative experiential activities (autonomous, club, volunteering, career)
• Subject learning progress and subject-specific comments
• Reading activity, behavioural characteristics and the overall comment

Which items count for university admission varies by track and by year. Whether a particular item is used can only be confirmed accurately in that year's university admissions guide.

If the contents are wrong — the amendment procedure

Entries cannot be changed at will. They go through the school's set procedure.

1. Tell the class teacher or the teacher responsible, specifically, which item is wrong and how
2. Submit objective material showing that it does not match the facts
3. The school reviews it and decides on amendment through the academic records committee or equivalent procedure
4. You are notified of the outcome

One point matters here. Clerical errors and omissions can be amended, but a request to change the wording of a teacher's assessment is outside the scope. A request without supporting material will not proceed.

Amendment also becomes considerably harder once the year has ended and time has passed. Checking during the year, and at the latest before it closes, is the realistic approach.

How to check during the year

Many people open the record for the first time after graduation and get a shock. Check it periodically while your child is enrolled.

• The NEIS parent service lets you view your child's school life information
• Look over attendance and entries before each term and school year closes
• Attendance corrections get harder as evidence becomes difficult to obtain. Submit absence explanations and medical certificates as they arise

How to check through the official channels is set out in the NEIS parent service and the school information disclosure site.

What happens to the record on a transfer or house move

The record follows the student between schools. The transfer procedure differs by school level, however, and so does the paperwork. The documents required are set out in transfer procedures for primary, middle and high school.

Checklist before you apply

• Have you confirmed the type required (viewing or submission) by the recipient?
• Did you select the correct purpose?
• Are the items you need actually printed?
• Are the year of study and personal details free of errors?
• Is there a validity period or an issue-date requirement?

The issuing screens and the rules behind them are revised from time to time. Before applying, check the government portal guidance and notices from the school and education office. If you are also thinking about career direction, starting with a career aptitude test is worth a look.