1. Purpose
Equra College London (“Equra”) is committed to protecting students if a significant disruption occurs that could affect their ability to complete their course. This Student Protection Plan explains the steps Equra will take to reduce risk, communicate clearly, and provide fair remedies.
2. Scope
This plan applies to all Equra provision, including:
- Programmes and diplomas
- Short courses and CPD
- Any provision delivered at partner venues or with delivery partners
Where a partner university has its own student protection requirements, Equra will align arrangements accordingly.
3. What this plan covers
This plan covers major risks such as:
- Course closure or inability to deliver a programme
- Significant change to course delivery (mode, location, staffing, content structure)
- Loss of access to key facilities or learning platforms
- Partner withdrawal or termination of a delivery arrangement
- Significant staffing disruption impacting delivery continuity
- Financial distress affecting Equra’s ability to deliver
- Loss of premises or inability to access teaching space
- Regulatory or legal restrictions that materially affect delivery
4. Prevention and risk management
Equra reduces risk through:
- Academic governance and controlled programme approval
- Annual monitoring and improvement planning
- Staffing plans and contingency cover arrangements where feasible
- Controlled use of learning platforms and secure document storage
- Financial planning and cashflow monitoring
- Clear contracting and due diligence for any partners/suppliers
- Risk assessment and incident reporting processes
Equra maintains a risk register and reviews key risks periodically at governance level.
5. How Equra will communicate with students
If a significant risk materialises or a disruption occurs, Equra will:
5.1 Notify affected students as soon as reasonably practicable
5.2 Explain: what has happened, why, what it means for the course, and what options are available
5.3 Provide a named contact point for support and queries
5.4 Provide updates at appropriate intervals until resolved
5.5 Communicate in accessible formats where required
Communication will normally be by email and published notice within the student portal/VLE, with additional contact where necessary.
6. What counts as a material change
A material change is a change that could reasonably be expected to disadvantage students, for example:
- Significant reduction in teaching provision or contact time
- Significant change to delivery location requiring additional travel costs or accessibility impact
- Significant change to mode of delivery (on-site to online or vice versa)
- Loss of key modules or major curriculum restructuring
- Significant timetable changes preventing reasonable participation
- Loss of key specialist staff without suitable replacement
Minor changes such as room changes or sequencing of topics are not normally material.
7. Student options and remedies
Where a course is disrupted or materially changed, Equra will offer one or more of the following options, depending on what is feasible and fair:
7.1 Teach-out (completion with Equra)
Equra will take reasonable steps to enable students to complete their course with Equra, including revised delivery plans, alternative scheduling, or alternative delivery methods.
7.2 Transfer to a suitable alternative course at Equra
Where appropriate, students may transfer to a similar course. Equra will explain academic implications and any fee implications.
7.3 Support to transfer to another provider (where feasible)
Where Equra cannot provide a suitable teach-out, Equra will support students to transfer to a suitable alternative provider where feasible, including providing records and confirming learning completed.
7.4 Refunds and compensation
Where Equra cannot deliver what was promised or where a student reasonably cannot continue due to the disruption, Equra will apply refunds and compensation in line with Equra’s Fees, Refunds, Cancellation and Compensation Policy.
8. Specific disruption scenarios and planned response
8.1 Course closure before start
If Equra cancels a course before it starts, affected students will be offered:
- A full refund of fees paid for that course, or
- An alternative start date or alternative course, if available and acceptable
8.2 Course closure after start
Equra will prioritise teach-out where feasible. If teach-out is not feasible, Equra will provide:
- A clear transfer or completion pathway where possible, and
- Appropriate refunds for undelivered teaching/assessment elements in line with published terms
8.3 Loss of premises or teaching space
Equra will seek alternative premises or move delivery temporarily online where feasible and academically appropriate, and will communicate any implications promptly.
8.4 Loss of learning platform access
Equra will restore access as quickly as possible and implement contingency access routes for essential learning materials and assessments where needed.
8.5 Loss of key staff
Equra will seek suitable replacement teaching staff and provide continuity planning. Where specialist staff cannot be replaced promptly and this creates a material impact, Equra will offer options under Section 7.
8.6 Partner withdrawal
Where delivery depends on a partner, Equra will engage immediately to confirm continuity arrangements. If continuity cannot be ensured, Equra will implement teach-out or transfer pathways and apply refunds where needed.
8.7 Financial distress
Equra will escalate financial risk to the Governing Body and take immediate steps to protect delivery, including controlled recruitment pauses and contingency planning for delivery continuity.
9. Protecting students with additional needs
Equra will consider the impact of disruption on:
- Students with disabilities and those requiring reasonable adjustments
- Students with caring responsibilities
- Students with travel or access constraints
Equra will provide accessible communication and tailored support where reasonably practicable.
10. Refund and fee treatment
Fee liability, refunds and compensation are handled under Equra’s Fees, Refunds, Cancellation and Compensation Policy. Equra will apply those terms fairly and in line with consumer protection expectations.
11. Complaints
If a student is dissatisfied with how Equra handled a disruption, the student may use Equra’s Student Complaints Procedure.
12. Monitoring and review
The Governing Body will review this Student Protection Plan annually, and after any major disruption, to improve safeguards and response planning.