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

The majority of 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. These include but are not limited to: 

• are a citizen of a country within the European Economic Area (EEA) or other countries determined within the EEA, or
• have the Right of Abode in the UK, or
• have been ordinarily resident in the EEA for at least the previous three years on the first day of learning 
• A non-EEA citizen is eligible for funding if they have permission granted by the UK government to live in the UK, which is not for educational purposes, and have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least the previous three years before the start of learning

The above information has been taken from the Education and Skills Funding Agency Combined rules for the Adult Education Budget. These can be viewed at link here. 

Level of Funding

The level of funding available to a learner is determined by the Education and Skills Funding Agency Funding Rules. These rules can be found 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 are based on the assumption of learners being 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:
   1. requirement of an apprenticeship
   2. 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 taking into account 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 take into account 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)

16-18 year olds are not charged for courses. This is 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 that 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 enroll 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.

Specific qualification guidance

February 2019 (review February 2020)