Fees Policy

This document describes the Skills & Learning policy for setting fees. 

It should be read in conjunction with policies covering: 

Course Entry

Learner Support  

Terms & Conditions

Fees  

Most courses offered by Skills & Learning carry some form of government funding allocated to the service via the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).  Please note that fees are correct at the time of publication but may be subject to changes. In all cases fees are non-transferrable. 

If you wish to be considered for enrolment on a course that is government funded, you must meet the eligibility criteria as outlined below.  

Eligibility for funding 

To be eligible for funding you must meet the eligibility rules of the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).  These can be found  here.  

This includes but is not limited to being permanently resident in the UK for the last 3 years and/or having the right to live in the UK for non-educational purposes. 

Level of Funding   

The level of funding available to a learner is determined by the Education and Skills Funding Agency Funding Rules as published  here. 

1. Learners who are eligible for full funding from the ESFA will not be charged a fee for the course, including exams, resources or awarding organisation registration and fees. Skills & Learning will meet the cost of the course from the government funding received.   
2. Learners who are eligible for co-funding as specified by the ESFA will be partly funded by the ESFA with an additional contribution being paid by the learner or employer. Our published fees assume learners are eligible for co-funding.  Where learners do not meet the eligibility for funding requirements, the actual fee payable will be higher than our published fees.    
3. Learners who do not qualify for funding are responsible for 100% of the cost of the course and will not receive or be eligible for any government support; including travel, childcare, adaptions, or additional learning support.  
4. We will not fund a learner to repeat the same regulated qualification where they have previously achieved it unless it is:  

• the requirement of an apprenticeship  
• for any GCSE where the learner has not achieved grade C, or 4, or higher   

Skills & Learning offers a discretionary Learning Support Fund to assist with cases of hardship related, for example, to childcare (for those aged 20+) and transport, according to ESFA regulations. This is only for learners on government funded provision and is subject to eligibility and availability of funds. Our policy is published  here.  

Apprenticeship Training  

No fee is charged to learners. Employer contributions will be charged in line with ESFA guidance and considering market rates.   

Level 3 and above courses   

For Level 3 and above courses attracting Government funding, fees will be set at funding rates advised by the ESFA. We reserve the right to set fees at a different rate to consider local market conditions. Learners, meeting eligibility criteria, may wish to take out a Government funded advanced learner loan for courses in scope for a loan. Please see  here  for further details. 

Traineeships  

Those eligible for traineeships (16-24-year olds) will be fully funded and not charged a fee. 

16-18-year olds (ESFA funded provision)  

Skills & Learning courses are not generally available for 16 to 18-year olds (excluding Apprenticeships) and we partner with specialist providers for delivery of programmes for young people. Those programmes are fully funded (you pay no fee) subject to eligibility and funding rules guidance. Please see  here.  

Non-accredited and Supported Learning   

Fees for these courses are as published. They are either wholly or partly subsidised by the Education & Skills Funding Agency. Certain courses are further subsidised for eligible learners. The fee will be shown as a ‘Concessionary Fee’.   

Learners not eligible for funding  

Learners aged 18 and over who are not eligible for funding and wish to be considered for enrolment on a course that is government funded can apply, however you will need to pay the full cost of the course. We will provide a price on application. For example, a learner with an existing Grade C, or 4 or higher at GCSE Maths or English would not be eligible for funding, however they may apply to enrol on the course subject to paying the full cost of the course.  Note the actual fee payable will be higher than our published fees.    

Full Cost Courses (not attracting Government funding)  

These courses will be charged at a rate determined by Skills & Learning. We reserve the right to amend fees from time to time to reflect market rates. There is no concessionary fee available on Full Cost Courses.  Minimum numbers of learners on courses will apply to ensure these courses remain financially viable. Learners/Employers are responsible for 100% of the cost of the course and will not receive or be eligible for any government support; including travel, childcare, adaptions or additional learning support. The eligibility criteria for government funded courses does not apply, although learners must be aged 18 and over. 

Exams and Re-sit Fees   

This policy advises learners of the charges they will incur if they:  

• fail to sit a scheduled exam or assessment  
• fail to submit required material in line with awarding body and Centre requirements  
• do not achieve the pass mark and wish to retake the exam or assessment  
• wish to resubmit assessment materials  

 Re-sits fees   

For ease, ‘re-sit’ refers to the re-sitting of a failed exam, sitting a missed exam, re-taking another form of assessment, taking a missed assessment, submitting other assessed work past the original submission date or re-submitting assessed work that did not meet the requirements for the qualification.     

Your course fee or the funding we claim to support this fee, includes a single attempt at achievement of the qualification through examination and/or other form of assessment as required by the Awarding Organisation.  If you are; unsuccessful, miss an exam/assessment, submit work later than the agreed submission date, and wish to ‘re-sit’ additional fees will be payable. These additional fees will include all or any of the following;   

• payments to the Awarding Organisation for the re-sit  
• administration charges  
• invigilation charges where appropriate.  
• staff time for re-marking/assessing    

These additional fees cannot be covered by any other form of funding and you will need to make a payment by the agreed dates in order to be considered for a re-sit.  

You will not be charged a no-show or re-sit fee for an exam or assessment that was cancelled or postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  

 Specific qualification guidance

May 2020 (review February 2021)