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Information for issuers

Use this information to find out how the issuing process could work in your school.

The DfE education record app

The DfE education record app allows pupils to access their education information in a digital education record on their mobile phone.

We will be issuing education records to year 11 pupils. Pupils can use the app to make application and enrolment at sixth form, college or a training provider quicker and easier. It allows them to share information digitally.

The issuer role

The role of the issuer is to vouch for the identity of pupils using issue education records (opens in new tab).

Once you have vouched for a pupil’s identity, they will be able to get their education record on the app.

Pupils must download the app from the App Store (Apple) or Play Store (Android).

Pupils might ask ‘what is this for?’ – they will get their GCSE results on their phone on GCSE results day (after they come into school to get their results). This will make it easier in future to prove what they have achieved. This will go with them throughout their lifetime.

They might need temporary Wi-Fi set up by your school’s IT person and need help connecting to it.

How to vouch for the identity of a pupil

You will vouch for a pupil’s identity using issue education records (opens in new tab).

To vouch for the identity of a pupil, you will need:

  • a DfE sign in account and the correct permission role to issue education records
  • access to the internet for yourself and pupils
  • access to an appropriate device such as a computer, laptop or tablet
  • the pupils to have their mobile phones with them on the day of issuing
  • the pupils to have the DfE education record app installed – they can find it by searching for ‘Education Record’ in the app stores

You need to be able to recognise the pupil and make sure the right pupil is selected for the person in front of you. If there are small typos in names or similar data problems; that is OK, you can still vouch for the pupil.

Download DfE education record app on Apple App Store (opens in new tab)

Download DfE education record app on Google Play Store (opens in new tab)

Vouch for a pupil: step by step

  1. You need to be sat with the pupil you wish to vouch for.
  2. Select the pupil from the pupil list.
  3. Confirm that the pupil selected matches the pupil you're sitting with.
  4. Generate a QR code.
  5. Get the pupil to scan the QR code using the DfE education record app.
  6. The pupil will then be able to access their education record from the app.

If a pupil deletes the app, they will lose access to their education record. You can reissue or the pupil can self-recover the education record.

If you are having problems with the app

Make sure that the pupil:

  • is scanning the QR code using the DfE education record app and not directly from their phone camera
  • has downloaded the latest version of the app
  • has a smartphone that is version 10 onwards for Android and version 15 onwards for iOS