Student Protection Plan
27 July 2023 2026-08-15 18:33Student Protection Plan
Student Protection Plan
How Caspian School of Academics will protect students' interests and support continuity of study if a course, campus or the School is affected by significant change.
Protecting your opportunity to complete your studies
The Student Protection Plan explains the risks that could affect the continuation of study and the measures Caspian School of Academics would use to minimise disruption. Its central aim is to preserve the continuity and quality of study for current students.
If a significant change occurs, the School will assess the effect on students, communicate available options, provide advice and support, and take reasonable steps to enable students to complete their qualification through teach-out, an appropriate alternative course or, where necessary, supported transfer to another provider.
Four core protections
Continue and complete
Where possible, current students will be supported to finish their course through a planned teach-out with appropriate teaching and learning resources.
Transfer and recognition
If teach-out is not possible, the School will seek suitable alternatives and support transfer, including credit and formal recognition of completed learning.
Clear communication
Affected students will receive timely, accessible information about the change, the available options, relevant timescales and where to obtain support.
Refunds and compensation
Refunds or compensation will be considered under the published Fee Refunds and Compensation policy where continuation of study cannot be preserved.
Risks considered in the published plan
The August 2026 plan assesses each of the following risks as low likelihood. Select a risk to see the principal protection described in the plan.
01 Provider closure, financial risk or loss of registration Low likelihood Extreme impact
Principal protections: financial and compliance monitoring, business-continuity arrangements, appropriate financial reserves, planned teach-out for students close to completion, and supported transfer arrangements where required.
02 Discontinuation of a course or module Low likelihood Minor-moderate impact
Principal protections: programme monitoring, advance planning, consultation with affected students, teach-out for enrolled students, alternative internal provision and support to identify another provider where necessary.
03 Campus closure or change of teaching location Low likelihood Moderate impact
Principal protections: alternative rooms or nearby premises, temporary online delivery when appropriate, business-continuity arrangements, clear communication and consideration of travel, distance and individual student needs.
04 Withdrawal of a partnership, validation or awarding-body approval Low likelihood Moderate impact
Principal protections: ongoing oversight of partnership requirements, early action on monitoring outcomes, phased course closure where necessary, and a commitment to teach-out so affected students can complete their studies.
05 Academic change, loss of staff or inability to recruit Low likelihood Minor impact
Principal protections: advance workforce planning, qualified associate lecturers, staff development, governance oversight of course changes, student representation and continued access to learning resources through the VLE.
06 Risk arising from compromised reputation Low likelihood Minor impact
Principal protections: student feedback and complaints routes, timely investigation and action planning, governance review of published information, and communication of resulting actions to relevant stakeholders.
07 Failure of IT infrastructure or learning systems Low likelihood Low impact
Principal protections: cloud-based systems, backup and disaster-recovery arrangements, internal and external IT support, annual continuity exercises and direct updates to students and staff during disruption.
08 Withdrawal of one or more modes of study or inability to recruit or teach a particular student group Low likelihood Moderate impact
Principal protections: early monitoring of recruitment, staffing and delivery viability; consultation with affected students; continuation through an appropriate alternative mode of study where practicable; and teach-out, transfer, credit recognition, advice and financial remedies where continuation in the original mode is not possible.
09 Closure, failure or withdrawal of a delivery partner, or termination of another collaborative delivery arrangement Low likelihood Moderate impact
Principal protections: ongoing partner monitoring and contingency planning; consultation and clear communication with affected students; teach-out through Caspian or an appropriate alternative arrangement where possible; and supported transfer, credit recognition, continuity of student finance, protection of academic records, refunds and compensation where required.
How the protection process would work
The response will depend on the event and the students affected. The School's priority will be to minimise disruption and enable informed decisions.
The School will identify the affected students, the likely duration and the implications for continuation of study.
Students and applicants will be given accessible information, relevant timescales and a named route for questions and support.
Student views and individual circumstances will be considered before alternative arrangements are finalised wherever practicable.
This may include teach-out, alternative delivery, another course, supported transfer, credit recognition or financial remedies under the relevant policy.
The School will monitor implementation, update affected students and involve relevant partners, awarding organisations and regulatory bodies as required.
Fair and accessible support
The impact of a change may differ between students. When considering alternatives, the School will take account of individual circumstances and seek to prevent avoidable disadvantage.
- Accessibility and reasonable-adjustment needs
- Travel distance, transport and location
- Educational needs and parity of course content
- Credit transfer and recognition of achievement
- Financial consequences and relevant additional costs
- Access to clear, impartial information, advice and guidance
Keeping the plan current
The plan and associated risk register are kept under review through the School's governance arrangements. The published plan states that the risk register is presented to the Board of Governors for approval at least annually.
- Senior Management Team oversight
- Annual consideration by the Board of Governors
- Student Committee discussion of proposed changes
- Review through the Standardisation Committee
- Review through the Senior Leadership Team and Academic Board
- Publication on the School website and virtual learning environment
Financial remedies where continuation cannot be preserved
The School's separate Fee Refunds and Compensation policy explains when tuition-fee refunds, compensation or reimbursement of relevant additional costs may be considered and how a claim is handled.
The published policy applies across different funding arrangements, including self-funded students, students supported through the Student Loans Company, and students whose fees are paid by an employer or sponsor. Any entitlement and payment route will depend on the circumstances and the terms of the policy. Students using Student Loans Company funding should also notify the Student Loans Company promptly if their student status changes.
Fee Refunds and Compensation
Procedure 8.2 - published policy covering refunds, relevant costs and compensation.
Regulatory context
The current Office for Students regulatory framework requires a registered provider to have in force and publish an approved Student Protection Plan, take reasonable steps to implement it when relevant events occur, and comply with any student protection direction issued where there is a material risk of full or substantial market exit. Read OfS Condition C3, OfS Condition C4 and the OfS guidance for students.
If you are dissatisfied with the arrangements
Raise the matter promptly through the School's published complaints route. After completing the relevant internal process, eligible higher-education students may be able to ask the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) to review the complaint. See Caspian's policies and procedures and the OIA guidance for students.
Read the complete Student Protection Plan
Download the full August 2026 document for the detailed risk assessment, rationale, protection measures, governance arrangements and contact information.
