Terms & Conditions

In these Terms:

2.1 We provide examination entry, administration, invigilation and related services for private candidates.

2.2 The relevant Awarding Body remains responsible for matters including qualification specifications, examination papers, examination timetables, marking, grading, results and certification.

2.3 Where applicable, examinations are administered in accordance with the regulations of the relevant Awarding Body and JCQ.

2.4 We cannot guarantee any particular examination result, grade, university admission, employment outcome or other result arising from a Candidate’s examination.

3.1 Submission of an application does not automatically guarantee acceptance.

3.2 We may review an application before accepting it, including whether we are able to accommodate the relevant qualification, subject, specification, assessment requirements and any Access Arrangements.

3.3 A Booking will normally only be confirmed once:

• we have accepted the application;
• all information and documentation requested by us has been supplied; and
• the required payment has been received.

3.4 We may reasonably refuse an application where we cannot safely, lawfully or practically provide the requested examination or assessment.

4.1 Candidates are responsible for ensuring that all information supplied to us is complete and accurate.

This includes, where applicable:

• full legal name;
• date of birth;
• address;
• Unique Candidate Identifier (UCI);
• previous candidate information;
• qualification;
• Awarding Body;
• specification or syllabus;
• subject;
• tier;
• option or entry codes; and
• any other information requested.

4.2 Candidates must check their Booking confirmation and notify us immediately if anything appears incorrect.

4.3 We are not responsible for errors resulting from incorrect information supplied or confirmed by the Candidate, parent, guardian or representative.

4.4 Changes requested after an entry has been submitted may incur additional Awarding Body and Centre administration charges.

5.1 All fees must be paid by the payment deadline stated by us.

5.2 Unless otherwise stated, a Candidate’s fees may include:

• Awarding Body entry fees;
• examination administration;
• invigilation;
• examination room provision;
• secure examination material handling; and
• other reasonable costs associated with delivering the examination.

5.3 Additional fees may apply for services including:

• late or very late entries;
• Access Arrangements;
• practical assessments;
• speaking examinations;
• coursework or non-exam assessment administration;
• timetable clashes;
• additional or individual invigilation;
• examination changes;
• post-results services;
• certificate postage or replacement services; and
• other non-standard requirements.

5.4 Entries may not be submitted until cleared payment has been received.

5.5 All prices are in pounds sterling (£GBP) unless stated otherwise.

6.1 Candidates are responsible for completing their application and providing payment and requested documentation before our published deadlines.

6.2 Applications received after a standard deadline may incur late or very late entry fees.

6.3 Acceptance of a late entry is not guaranteed.

6.4 Where an Awarding Body refuses an entry or amendment because a deadline has passed, we are not responsible for that refusal provided we have acted correctly on the information and instructions supplied to us.

Candidates must:

7.1 Read communications issued by the Centre.

7.2 Check examination dates, times and locations carefully.

7.3 Attend at the time instructed by the Centre.

7.4 Follow instructions given by Centre staff and invigilators.

7.5 Familiarise themselves with applicable JCQ and Awarding Body regulations.

7.6 Inform us promptly of any relevant change in their personal information or circumstances.

7.7 Ensure they have made appropriate travel arrangements and allow sufficient time to arrive at the Centre.

8.1 Candidates may be required to produce acceptable photographic identification.

8.2 The name on the identification should correspond with the Candidate’s examination registration details unless an alternative has been agreed with us.

8.3 We may refuse admission where we cannot satisfactorily verify a Candidate’s identity.

8.4 Suspected impersonation, identity fraud or provision of deliberately false information may be reported to the relevant Awarding Body and, where appropriate, other authorities.

9.1 Candidates requiring Access Arrangements must inform us as early as possible.

9.2 Access Arrangements are subject to applicable JCQ and/or Awarding Body rules, evidence requirements and deadlines.

9.3 Candidates are responsible for providing requested evidence within the timeframe specified by us.

9.4 An Access Arrangement used previously at another school or centre does not automatically mean that the same arrangement can be provided or approved at our Centre.

9.5 We cannot guarantee that a requested Access Arrangement will be approved.

9.6 Additional charges may apply where providing an Access Arrangement creates additional assessment, staffing, rooming or administrative requirements.

10.1 Candidates should arrive at the Centre at the time stated in their joining instructions.

10.2 Candidates arriving late may be refused admission where required by examination regulations or where admission would compromise the examination.

10.3 Where a late Candidate is permitted to sit an examination, the circumstances may need to be reported to the Awarding Body.

10.4 Candidates must follow all instructions given by invigilators and Centre staff.

10.5 Candidates must not bring prohibited items into the examination room.

This may include:

• mobile phones;
• smart watches;
• headphones or earbuds;
• unauthorised notes;
• electronic communication devices; and
• any other item prohibited by examination regulations.

11.1 We are committed to providing a safe, professional and appropriate examination environment for Candidates and staff.

11.2 Candidates must behave respectfully towards staff, invigilators, other Candidates and visitors.

11.3 Abusive, threatening, intimidating, discriminatory, aggressive or seriously disruptive behaviour will not be tolerated.

11.4 Candidates must attend wearing clothing that is reasonably appropriate for a shared examination environment.

We may require reasonable action where clothing:

• displays threatening, discriminatory, obscene or grossly offensive material;
• creates a genuine examination security concern;
• prevents identity verification where verification is required under applicable examination rules; or
• materially disrupts the examination environment.

11.5 Candidates are expected to maintain reasonable standards of personal hygiene appropriate to a shared examination environment.

Where a Candidate has a strong odour, including body odour, tobacco or other substances, or excessive fragrance, which is materially affecting other Candidates or staff, we may take reasonable and proportionate steps to protect the examination environment.

This may include speaking privately with the Candidate, changing seating arrangements or, where the issue is sufficiently serious and cannot reasonably be managed in another way, refusing or terminating attendance.

11.6 Decisions under this section will be made reasonably and, where appropriate, with consideration for disabilities, medical conditions, religious requirements and other relevant protected characteristics.

11.7 Where a Candidate’s conduct presents an immediate safety, security or serious disruption risk, they may be required to leave the premises.

12.1 Candidates must comply with all applicable examination regulations.

12.2 Suspected malpractice may include:

• cheating;
• copying;
• plagiarism;
• unauthorised use of artificial intelligence;
• possession of unauthorised materials or electronic devices;
• communicating with another Candidate;
• impersonation;
• unauthorised assistance;
• submitting work that is not the Candidate’s own; or
• failing to comply with an invigilator’s instructions.

12.3 We may be required to report suspected malpractice to the relevant Awarding Body.

12.4 The Awarding Body determines whether malpractice has occurred and what sanction, if any, should apply.

12.5 Sanctions may include loss of marks, disqualification from a paper or qualification, or other action permitted under the applicable regulations.

12.6 Where a Candidate is removed from an examination or disqualified because of their own misconduct or malpractice, this will not normally create a right to a refund.

13.1 Candidates who fail to attend a scheduled examination will normally be recorded as absent.

13.2 Failure to attend does not automatically entitle a Candidate to a refund.

13.3 Candidates who cannot attend because of illness or another serious circumstance should notify us as soon as reasonably possible.

13.4 Where applicable, we may assist with an application for Special Consideration. Eligibility and the outcome of any application are determined under the relevant Awarding Body rules.

14.1 Cancellation requests must be made in writing.

14.2 Any statutory cancellation rights available to a consumer are unaffected by these Terms.

14.3 Where a Candidate cancels before we have incurred significant costs or committed fees to an Awarding Body or another supplier, we will consider any refund due after deducting reasonable costs and losses directly resulting from the cancellation.

14.4 Once an examination entry has been submitted, or once we have incurred non-recoverable costs in connection with the Booking, any refund may be reduced to reflect those costs and losses.

These may include:

• non-refundable Awarding Body fees;
• administration already undertaken;
• assessments already carried out;
• staffing or invigilation commitments;
• rooming or practical arrangements; and
• other costs reasonably incurred specifically for the Candidate’s Booking.

14.5 We will not retain an amount which is disproportionate to the loss reasonably resulting from the cancellation.

14.6 Failure to attend an examination without cancelling does not automatically create a right to a refund.

14.7 Where an Awarding Body provides a refund or credit in relation to a cancelled entry, this will be taken into account when determining any refund due to the Candidate.

15.1 Examination dates, times, specifications and other arrangements may be changed by an Awarding Body or other authority.

15.2 We will communicate material changes to Candidates as soon as reasonably practicable after becoming aware of them.

15.3 Candidates remain responsible for checking communications from us before attending.

15.4 Where an Awarding Body requires a change, we are not responsible for the Awarding Body’s decision itself, but this does not affect any rights the Candidate may have against us in relation to services we are responsible for providing.

16.1 Circumstances may arise outside our reasonable control which prevent or materially affect the delivery of an examination.

These may include:

• fire;
• flood;
• severe weather;
• public health emergencies;
• government restrictions;
• industrial action;
• utility failure;
• serious IT or cyber incidents;
• terrorism or security incidents;
• civil emergencies;
• evacuation of the premises;
• transport disruption affecting examination materials;
• actions or decisions of an Awarding Body; or
• other circumstances which could not reasonably have been prevented by the Centre.

16.2 Where this happens, we will take reasonable steps, having regard to Awarding Body rules and the circumstances, to minimise disruption.

Depending on what is permitted and reasonably practicable, this may include seeking to:

• rearrange the examination;
• transfer the Candidate to another permitted sitting;
• make alternative arrangements;
• obtain a credit or refund from the Awarding Body; or
• refund amounts for services that cannot be provided.

16.3 Where an examination cannot be provided and no reasonable alternative is available, any refund will be determined in accordance with applicable consumer law and will take account of services already supplied and costs which may lawfully be retained.

16.4 Nothing in this clause removes or restricts any statutory rights which cannot legally be excluded.

17.1 Awarding Bodies operate independently from the Centre.

17.2 We are not responsible for decisions made solely by an Awarding Body concerning matters including:

• marking;
• grades;
• grade boundaries;
• examination paper content;
• specification requirements;
• malpractice decisions;
• Special Consideration decisions;
• Access Arrangement decisions;
• result publication;
• certification; or
• post-results decisions.

17.3 Where a Candidate wishes to challenge an Awarding Body decision, any review or appeal must follow the applicable Awarding Body procedure.

18.1 Results and certificates are issued in accordance with Awarding Body arrangements.

18.2 Candidates are responsible for keeping their contact details up to date.

18.3 Certificates may be collected or posted depending on the service selected.

18.4 Additional charges may apply for tracked, special or international delivery.

18.5 Where certificates are posted, we are not responsible for loss or delay caused solely by the postal or courier provider, although we will provide reasonable assistance where appropriate.

19.1 Reviews of marking, access to scripts, appeals and other post-results services are subject to Awarding Body rules and deadlines.

19.2 Candidates are responsible for requesting such services within the deadline specified by us.

19.3 Additional fees will normally apply.

19.4 Marks and grades may increase, decrease or remain unchanged following certain post-results services.

20.1 We are responsible for foreseeable loss or damage caused by our breach of these Terms or our failure to exercise reasonable care and skill.

20.2 We are not responsible for losses caused solely by matters outside our responsibility, including decisions made independently by Awarding Bodies.

20.3 We will not normally be responsible for indirect or consequential losses such as:

• travel expenses;
• accommodation expenses;
• loss of earnings;
• loss of opportunity; or
• losses arising from university, employment or other third-party decisions,

except where such liability cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

20.4 Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for:

• death or personal injury caused by negligence;
• fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or
• any other liability which cannot legally be excluded.

20.5 Nothing in these Terms affects the Candidate’s statutory consumer rights.

21.1 We will process personal information in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation and our Privacy Policy.

21.2 Examination administration requires us to share certain Candidate information with relevant organisations, which may include:

• Awarding Bodies;
• JCQ;
• regulators;
• examination personnel;
• Access Arrangement professionals; and
• other organisations where disclosure is necessary or legally required.

21.3 Candidates should refer to our Privacy Policy for further information about how personal information is collected, used, stored and shared.

22.1 We aim to deal with Candidates fairly and professionally.

22.2 Complaints about services provided by the Centre should be made in accordance with our Complaints Policy.

22.3 Our current Complaints Policy is available on our website or can be provided on request.

22.4 Candidates should submit complaints promptly so that they can be properly investigated.

22.5 A complaint concerning an Awarding Body decision may be subject to a separate Awarding Body review or appeals procedure.

22.6 Making a complaint does not extend any Awarding Body, post-results, appeal or other regulatory deadline.

23.1 We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in law, examination regulations, Awarding Body requirements or our services.

23.2 The Terms applicable to a Booking will normally be those provided or made available when the Booking is made, except where a change is required by law or applicable examination regulations.

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unlawful, invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply.

Except where expressly stated otherwise, no person other than the Candidate and the Centre has any right to enforce these Terms under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

26.1 These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

26.2 If you are a consumer resident elsewhere in the United Kingdom, you may also have rights to bring proceedings in the courts applicable to the part of the United Kingdom in which you live.

By submitting an application and proceeding with a Booking, the Candidate or, where applicable, the parent or guardian making the Booking confirms that they have:

• read these Terms and Conditions;
• had the opportunity to ask questions before booking;
• provided information which is accurate to the best of their knowledge; and
• agreed to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.