Terms & Conditions

Section 1 - Your agreement with The Frederick School

These Terms and Conditions explain the agreement between you and The Frederick School when you accept a place on one of our courses. Please read them carefully before making any payment.

1. About these terms
A place on a course is offered following the School’s application and suitability process. Receiving an offer does not in itself commit you to joining the course. Before making payment, you will be given access to these Terms and Conditions. By paying either the course deposit or the full course fee, you confirm that you wish to accept your place and agree to these Terms and Conditions.

2. Securing your place
If you are offered a place following your suitability interview, you will receive an email confirming the offer together with instructions for payment. Once the required payment has been successfully received, your place will be reserved. Your booking is confirmed when The Frederick School sends your Booking Confirmation email. The remaining balance must be paid within 21 calendar days of the date of the Booking Confirmation email, or no later than 14 calendar days before the advertised course start date, whichever occurs first. Your confirmation email will state the exact date on which the balance is due.

If you have made payment but have not received your Booking Confirmation email within 48 hours, please contact The Frederick School. If the balance is not received by the stated due date, the School may contact you regarding the outstanding payment and may, if payment remains unpaid, release the place to another applicant.

3. Course fees and payment

The total course fee applicable to your course, together with the amount of any deposit available or required, will be clearly stated on the Course Fees page of this website and in the payment information provided to you before you make a booking. The total course fee applicable to your booking will also be stated in your Booking Confirmation. Once your booking has been confirmed, that fee will not increase. All fees are stated in pounds sterling. No compulsory booking, administration or payment-processing charges will be added to the course fee. The fee covers the scheduled teaching programme, standard course materials provided by The Frederick School, course assessment and, where the course completion requirements are successfully met, your Frederick School course certificate. Any books, reading materials or other resources suggested for additional study will be optional unless you are informed otherwise before accepting your place. The course fee confirmed in your Booking Confirmation will not increase. The Frederick School may set different fees for future courses or cohorts, but this will not affect a booking that has already been confirmed.

Payments must be made using one of the payment methods provided by The Frederick School. Payment is considered received once it has been successfully processed. Where the deposit option is chosen, the deposit forms part of the total course fee and is not an additional charge. Paying by deposit does not increase the overall cost of the course. The remaining balance must be paid within 21 calendar days of the date of the Booking Confirmation email, or no later than 14 calendar days before the advertised course start date, whichever occurs first. Your Booking Confirmation will state the exact date on which the remaining balance is due.

Where a place is booked fewer than 14 calendar days before the advertised course start date, the deposit payment option will not normally be available and the full course fee must be paid at the time of booking in order to secure the place. Any alternative payment arrangement must be agreed by The Frederick School in writing. Unless such an arrangement has been agreed, payments must be made by the dates stated above and in your Booking Confirmation.

If a payment fails, is cancelled, reversed or otherwise not successfully received, it will be treated as unpaid. Where another person or organisation makes payment on your behalf, the course place remains registered to the student named in the Booking Confirmation and remains subject to these Terms and Conditions.

Payments and course places are not transferable to another person without the prior agreement of The Frederick School.

4. Your right to cancel

Where you book a course at a distance, including online or by email, you normally have a statutory right to cancel your booking within 14 calendar days without giving a reason. For the purposes of these Terms and Conditions, your contract with The Frederick School is formed when the School sends your Booking Confirmation email following receipt of the required payment. Your 14-day cancellation period begins on the day after the contract is formed. Your Booking Confirmation will also provide you with a copy of the Terms and Conditions applying to your booking and information about your cancellation rights, including a cancellation form, in a format which you can save and retain.

Cancelling during the 14-day period

To exercise your right to cancel, you must make it clear to The Frederick School that you wish to cancel your booking before the 14-day cancellation period has expired. You may do this by email or by using the cancellation form provided with your booking information. You do not have to use the cancellation form, provided your decision to cancel is communicated clearly. Where you cancel within the statutory cancellation period and no part of the course has yet been provided, all payments you have made, including any deposit, will be refunded in full. Any refund due will be made without undue delay and no later than 14 days after the School is informed of your decision to cancel. Unless expressly agreed otherwise, the refund will be made using the same payment method used for the original payment and no refund fee will be charged.

Booking shortly before the course begins

The School will normally seek to ensure that a student’s statutory cancellation period has expired before teaching begins. However, places may occasionally be offered or accepted fewer than 14 days before the advertised course start date. In these circumstances, the full course fee will be payable at the time of booking, in accordance with the payment terms set out above. Where the course is due to begin before your 14-day cancellation period has expired, The Frederick School will only begin providing the course during that period where you have expressly requested that the service begins before the end of your cancellation period.

If you make such a request and subsequently cancel within the 14-day period after part of the course has already been provided, you will remain entitled to cancel. However, the School may deduct or charge an amount that is proportionate to the part of the course that has actually been provided up to the point at which you informed the School of your cancellation, where permitted by law. Starting the course during the cancellation period does not, by itself, remove your statutory right to cancel.

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions affects any statutory rights you have as a consumer.

5. Cancelling your place after the 14-day cancellation period

You may cancel your course place after the statutory 14-day cancellation period has ended. However, because places are limited and a place has been reserved specifically for you, cancellation may result in some or all of the money you have paid being retained. You should notify The Frederick School by email as soon as possible if you wish to cancel. Your cancellation will take effect from the date on which the School receives your notice.

If you cancel before the remaining balance is due

If you have paid the required deposit and cancel after your 14-day cancellation period has ended but before the remaining balance has become due, The Frederick School will not require you to pay that remaining balance solely because you have cancelled. The School may, however, retain some or all of the deposit where this is necessary to cover the reasonable financial loss caused by your cancellation. The School will take reasonable steps to reduce that loss, including seeking to offer the place to another suitable applicant where reasonably possible.

If your place is successfully filled by another student paying the full course fee, your deposit will be refunded, less any reasonable and non-recoverable costs directly resulting from your booking and cancellation. If your place cannot reasonably be filled, some or all of the deposit may be retained where the School’s actual loss resulting from your cancellation justifies doing so. The School will not retain more than is reasonably necessary to compensate it for the loss caused by your cancellation.

If you cancel after the remaining balance has become due

Once the date for payment of the remaining balance has passed, the payment obligations set out in Clause 3 will already have become due. If you cancel at this stage, or after paying the course fee in full, The Frederick School will take reasonable steps to reduce its loss, including attempting to fill the vacant place where reasonably possible. Where the place is successfully filled, any amount retained by the School will be adjusted to reflect the loss actually incurred. The School will not receive payment twice for the same course place. Where the place cannot reasonably be filled, the School may retain payments already made or seek payment of amounts already due, but only to the extent reasonably necessary to compensate the School for the actual financial loss caused by the cancellation. Any costs or expenditure saved by the School because you are no longer attending will be taken into account when calculating that loss.

Withdrawal after the course has started

If you withdraw after the course has begun, you will not normally be entitled to a refund simply because you change your mind or are unable to attend the remaining sessions. As it may no longer be reasonably possible to offer your place to another student once teaching has commenced, some or all of the course fee may remain payable. Any amount retained or charged will nevertheless reflect the School’s reasonable financial loss and will take account of any costs saved as a result of your withdrawal.

Exceptional circumstances

The Frederick School recognises that exceptional circumstances can arise. The School may, at its discretion, consider a partial refund, transfer or other reasonable arrangement depending on the individual circumstances. Any such arrangement will be considered on a case-by-case basis and does not create an automatic entitlement to the same arrangement in other circumstances. If requested, The Frederick School will explain how any amount retained or charged following cancellation has been calculated.

Nothing in this clause affects your statutory consumer rights.

6. Changes or cancellation by The Frederick School

The Frederick School will make every reasonable effort to deliver the course as advertised. However, circumstances may occasionally arise which require changes to the timetable, teaching arrangements, venue or method of delivery. Any changes made by the School will be reasonable and proportionate and, wherever possible, will seek to preserve the purpose, quality and overall character of the course.

Minor changes

The School may make reasonable minor changes that do not materially alter the nature or overall content of the course. These may include changes to the order in which topics are taught, room allocation within the teaching venue, or other minor administrative or timetable adjustments. Students will be informed of relevant changes as soon as reasonably possible. Minor changes of this nature will not normally give rise to a right to cancel the course or receive a refund.

Cancellation or rearrangement of individual sessions

Occasionally, an individual teaching session may need to be cancelled or rearranged because of circumstances such as tutor illness, venue availability, severe weather or another unexpected event. Where this happens, The Frederick School will make reasonable efforts to rearrange the affected teaching and preserve the overall teaching provision of the course. A cancelled session will not simply be treated as teaching delivered where the School has been unable to provide it.

Temporary changes caused by exceptional circumstances

Where circumstances outside the School’s reasonable control temporarily prevent the course from being delivered in its usual way, The Frederick School may make reasonable temporary changes in order to maintain continuity of teaching and preserve the purpose of the course. Such circumstances might include a public-health emergency, government restrictions, emergency closure of the teaching venue, severe disruption to transport or infrastructure, or another comparable unforeseen event. Where in-person teaching is temporarily prevented or becomes unlawful, unsafe or impracticable, the School may provide a limited period of teaching online or through another suitable temporary arrangement where this represents a reasonable means of continuing the course. Any temporary alternative arrangement will be used only for as long as reasonably necessary. The School will seek to return to the advertised in-person format as soon as it is reasonably possible to do so. In deciding whether temporary online teaching or another alternative arrangement is appropriate, the School will take account of the nature of the course and, in particular, the importance of in-person skills practice, group learning and experiential work. A reasonable temporary change made in response to exceptional circumstances will not normally entitle a student to cancel the course or receive a full refund where the School continues to provide substantially the teaching and course experience that was agreed.

Significant changes

The School will not make a significant change to an essential feature of the course merely for convenience. A significant change might include a substantial alteration to the advertised course dates, a material change of location, a significant reduction in scheduled teaching provision, or a prolonged or permanent change from predominantly in-person teaching to online delivery. Where a significant change becomes necessary before the course begins, students will be informed as soon as reasonably possible and given the opportunity to accept the revised arrangements. If you do not wish to accept a significant change made before the course begins, you may cancel your place and receive a full refund of course fees already paid.

If exceptional circumstances arising after the course has begun mean that temporary alternative arrangements become prolonged or the course becomes substantially different from what was originally agreed, The Frederick School will review the position with affected students. Where the School is ultimately unable to provide a substantial part of the course as agreed, students will retain any entitlement they may have to an appropriate refund, price reduction or other remedy under consumer law.

Cancellation of the whole course

The Frederick School reserves the right to cancel a course where it is not reasonably possible for the course to proceed. This might include insufficient student enrolment, loss of access to the teaching venue, serious tutor illness or incapacity, or other circumstances which make delivery of the course impracticable. The decision to cancel a course will not be taken lightly and students will be informed as soon as reasonably possible.

If The Frederick School cancels the entire course before teaching has begun, you will receive a full refund of all course fees you have paid. Where appropriate, the School may offer you the opportunity to transfer to a future course instead. You will not be required to accept a transfer and may choose a refund instead.

Significant disruption after the course has begun

If circumstances arise after teaching has started which significantly affect the School’s ability to continue delivering the course, the School will first make reasonable efforts to preserve the course. This may include rearranging teaching dates, securing a suitable alternative venue or making temporary changes to the method of delivery. If the School is ultimately unable to provide a substantial part of the remaining course, students will be entitled to an appropriate refund for teaching that has not been provided, together with any other rights or remedies available under law. Nothing in this clause gives The Frederick School an unrestricted right to substantially alter the course or retain payment for teaching that it is ultimately unable to provide.

Nothing in this clause affects your statutory rights as a consumer.

Section 2 - Taking part in the school

7. Attendance and punctuality

Regular attendance is an important part of the course. Students are expected to attend all scheduled teaching sessions and to arrive in sufficient time to be ready for the advertised start time. If you know that you will be absent or late, you should inform The Frederick School as soon as reasonably possible.

Occasional unavoidable absence or lateness will not in itself result in removal from the course. However, repeated absence, persistent lateness or leaving sessions early may affect your ability to meet the course requirements and may result in the School raising a formal concern with you.
Where a student arrives significantly late, the tutor may ask them to wait until an appropriate point before joining the session where immediate entry would unnecessarily disrupt skills practice, experiential work or another sensitive group activity. Teaching missed because of a student’s absence or lateness will not normally be repeated individually, and a student will not normally be entitled to a refund for sessions or parts of sessions they choose not to attend or are unable to attend.

Where absence or punctuality difficulties may relate to a disability or another circumstance for which reasonable adjustments may be appropriate, the School will consider this separately and fairly.

8. Participation and engagement

The course is experiential and requires active participation. Attendance alone is not sufficient to meet the course requirements. Students are expected to engage appropriately with taught sessions and to participate in counselling-skills practice, group activities, reflective exercises, feedback and other required elements of the programme. This includes being willing to practise skills, work with different members of the group, give and receive constructive feedback, reflect on learning and respond appropriately to tutor guidance.

Students are not required to disclose private or intimate personal information simply for the sake of disclosure. Each student remains responsible for deciding what personal information they choose to share. However, because reflection and experiential learning form an important part of the course, a sustained unwillingness or inability to engage meaningfully with required activities may affect a student’s ability to meet the course requirements.

Where The Frederick School has concerns about a student’s participation or engagement, these will normally be discussed with the student. The student will be given a reasonable opportunity to explain any relevant circumstances and, where appropriate, to improve their engagement.

Persistent non-engagement, refusal to take part in essential course activities, or failure to respond to reasonable attempts to address participation concerns may ultimately result in the student’s suitability to continue on the course being reviewed.

9. Behaviour and respectful conduct

Students are expected to behave in a way that supports a respectful, inclusive and constructive learning environment. Students must treat fellow students, tutors, staff, visitors and other people encountered at the teaching venue with appropriate respect. The Frederick School operates independently and is not part of West Thames College, although teaching may take place within premises located on or associated with the College site. Other students, staff, visitors and members of the public may therefore be using the building, surrounding areas and shared facilities at the same time.

Students of The Frederick School are expected to behave considerately throughout the venue and to respect shared spaces, facilities, equipment and any reasonable rules applying to the premises. Behaviour which may lead to action by The Frederick School includes, but is not limited to:

bullying, harassment, intimidation or threatening behaviour;
discriminatory, deliberately degrading or seriously disrespectful conduct;
persistent or serious disruption of teaching, skills practice or group activities;
aggressive, abusive or confrontational behaviour;
behaviour towards other users of the venue which may reasonably cause distress, disruption or concern;
attending the course while significantly impaired by alcohol or non-prescribed drugs;
deliberate or reckless damage to the venue, equipment or another person’s property;
failure to follow reasonable health, safety or venue requirements;
unauthorised photography, audio recording or video recording; or
other behaviour which significantly compromises the safety, dignity, learning or reasonable enjoyment of others.

The School does not expect students always to agree with one another. Appropriate challenge, discussion and differences of opinion are part of learning. Concerns will relate to the manner, seriousness or impact of a student’s behaviour rather than simply to the expression of a different view.

Where a student’s conduct affects the venue or another organisation using the premises, The Frederick School may also need to respond to reasonable requests or requirements made by the venue provider. Serious or persistent concerns about behaviour may result in the student’s suitability to continue on the course being reviewed and may ultimately lead to suspension or termination of their place.

Personal and intimate relationships

The Frederick School recognises that students are adults and may form friendships, romantic relationships or other personal relationships during the course. The School does not seek to regulate consensual relationships between students outside the learning environment unless they begin to affect participation in the course, the wellbeing of others, confidentiality, assessment, skills practice or the effective functioning of the group.

Where a romantic or sexual relationship exists or develops between students, those involved are expected to maintain appropriate boundaries within the learning environment. The Frederick School may, where reasonably necessary, make changes to skills-practice pairings, assessment arrangements or other course activities in order to manage a conflict of interest, protect confidentiality or preserve the integrity of the learning and assessment process.

Unwanted sexual attention, sexualised behaviour directed towards another student, harassment, coercion, intimidation or retaliatory behaviour following the beginning, ending or rejection of a personal relationship will not be tolerated and may be dealt with under the warning, suspension and termination provisions set out in these Terms and Conditions.

The tutor will maintain appropriate professional boundaries with students and will not enter into a romantic or sexual relationship with a student during the course. Professional boundaries may continue to be relevant after the course has ended, particularly where a relationship of influence, dependence, assessment or other power imbalance remains. Any subsequent personal relationship would need to be considered with particular care in light of those continuing professional and ethical responsibilities.

Fitness to participate
Students must not attend or participate in the course while impaired by alcohol, non-prescribed drugs or any other substance to an extent that affects their ability to participate safely, appropriately or constructively in teaching, group work, skills practice or assessment.

Where the tutor reasonably considers that a student is not fit to participate, the student may be asked to leave the session or not take part in a particular activity or assessment. Any resulting absence or missed assessment will be dealt with in accordance with the attendance and assessment provisions set out elsewhere in these Terms and Conditions.

Where concerns about fitness to participate are serious, repeated or create a risk to the student or others, the matter may also be dealt with under the warning, suspension and termination provisions set out in these Terms and Conditions.

10. Confidentiality within the learning group

Counselling-skills training may involve students sharing personal experiences, reflections, feelings and responses as part of their learning.

Students are expected to treat personal information shared by other members of the group with care, respect and confidentiality. Information which could identify another student, or personal material disclosed during teaching, skills practice, reflective exercises or group discussion, must not be shared outside the learning group without that person’s permission. Students should take particular care not to discuss another student’s personal disclosures with friends, family members, colleagues, other students or on social media.

Students must not make audio recordings, video recordings, photographs or other recordings of teaching sessions, skills practice or fellow students without the prior permission of The Frederick School and, where another person is identifiable, their agreement. Confidentiality within a training group cannot be guaranteed to be absolute. Where information raises a serious concern about the safety or welfare of an individual, safeguarding, serious misconduct, or another matter which the School has a legal or professional responsibility to address, The Frederick School may need to take appropriate action and share relevant information where necessary. Students should therefore avoid making promises of absolute confidentiality to one another.

If a student is unsure whether information disclosed during the course can or should remain confidential, they should raise the matter privately with the tutor rather than sharing it more widely. A serious or repeated breach of another student’s confidentiality may be treated as misconduct and may result in the student’s suitability to continue on the course being reviewed.

11. Suitability to continue on the course

The suitability process carried out before admission does not prevent concerns from arising once the course has begun. The Frederick School therefore reserves the right to review a student’s suitability to continue where there are significant or sustained concerns about their attendance, participation, conduct, ability to engage with essential course activities, or the effect of their behaviour on the learning, wellbeing or safety of others.

A suitability review does not automatically mean that a student’s place will be ended. Where reasonably possible, concerns will be discussed with the student and they will be given an opportunity to explain any relevant circumstances and respond to the concerns raised. The School will consider whether clarification of expectations, additional support, an agreed improvement plan or reasonable adjustments may enable the student to continue successfully.

A decision about suitability will not be based simply on a student experiencing personal difficulty, requiring reasonable adjustments, having a disability, or expressing an appropriate difference of opinion. Where concerns are sufficiently serious, persistent, or cannot reasonably be resolved, the student’s place may be subject to the warning, suspension or termination process set out in the following clause.

12. Concerns, warnings and ending a student’s place

Where The Frederick School has concerns about a student’s attendance, punctuality, participation, conduct or ability to meet the reasonable requirements of the course, the School will normally seek to address those concerns proportionately and give the student an appropriate opportunity to respond. Depending on the nature and seriousness of the concern, action may include:

an informal discussion with the student;
clarification of the standard or behaviour expected;
a written concern or warning;
an agreed period in which improvement is expected;
an action or support plan;
a final warning;
temporary suspension from the course; or
termination of the student’s place.

The School is not required to follow every stage in every case. Persistent concerns will normally be addressed progressively, but sufficiently serious conduct may justify immediate suspension or termination. Serious grounds may include threatening or violent behaviour, serious bullying or harassment, a serious breach of another student’s confidentiality, behaviour presenting a significant risk to the safety or welfare of others, serious disruption of the learning environment, or another substantial breach of these Terms and Conditions. Where appropriate, temporary suspension may be used while a serious concern is considered. Suspension does not in itself mean that a final decision has been made.

Except where immediate action is reasonably necessary to protect students, staff or others, the student will normally be told what the concerns are and given an opportunity to respond before a final decision is made. Where immediate suspension is necessary, the student will be given an opportunity to respond as soon as reasonably practicable afterwards. Where persistent attendance, punctuality, engagement or conduct concerns have previously been raised, a student’s place may be ended where reasonable opportunities to address those concerns have not resulted in sufficient improvement. If The Frederick School decides to terminate a student’s place, the decision and the principal reasons for it will normally be confirmed to the student in writing.

Fees following termination of a student’s place

Termination of a student’s place because of their conduct, persistent non-attendance, non-engagement or other failure to meet the requirements of these Terms and Conditions does not automatically entitle the student to a refund of course fees relating to the remaining course period. Any refund, amount retained or outstanding payment will be determined fairly according to the circumstances. The School will take account of teaching already provided, the financial loss resulting from the student’s departure, whether the vacated place can reasonably be filled, and any costs the School saves because the student is no longer attending.

Where a student’s departure occurs after the course has begun, it may not reasonably be possible to offer the place to another student. In these circumstances, some or all of the remaining course fee may therefore be retained or remain payable where this reflects the School’s genuine financial loss. The School will not retain or seek payment of more than is reasonably necessary to compensate it for that loss. Where a refund is due after these factors have been taken into account, the appropriate amount will be returned to the student.

A student who believes that a decision to terminate their place has been made unfairly may challenge that decision by making a formal complaint in accordance with Clause 23 of these Terms and Conditions.

Nothing in this clause affects the student’s statutory consumer rights.

Section 3 - Assessment, completion and certification

13. Assessment and course requirements
Successful completion of the course is based on more than attendance alone. Students are expected to demonstrate appropriate development across the course through participation, counselling-skills practice, reflective work, tutor feedback and the formal assessment requirements set out in the following clauses.

Assessment is intended to consider whether the student has developed the knowledge, skills, self-awareness and ability to work responsibly with others that are appropriate to the level and purpose of the course. Students are expected to engage with feedback and to show evidence of development over time. This does not mean that students are expected to perform perfectly throughout the course, but they must demonstrate sufficient progress and competence by the point at which final completion decisions are made.

The Frederick School will make assessment requirements clear to students and will provide reasonable information about the standards expected. Attendance, participation and completion of course activities do not in themselves guarantee that a student will successfully complete the course.

Where there are concerns about a student’s progress, these will normally be raised during the course so that the student has a reasonable opportunity to understand the concern, respond to feedback and improve where possible. Successful completion will depend on meeting the required standard across the course as a whole, including the formal assessment requirements described below.

14. Live skills assessment

Students will be required to complete a live practical skills assessment as part of the course. The assessment will normally involve a structured counselling-skills exercise, such as a triad or comparable live practice format, in which the student demonstrates their ability to use appropriate counselling skills within a time-limited session. Students may be assessed on areas including their ability to listen attentively, respond appropriately, demonstrate empathy, use counselling skills with purpose, maintain appropriate boundaries, remain aware of the other person’s experience and reflect on their own practice.

The assessment is intended to evaluate the student’s practical application of counselling skills at the level and standard expected for this course. It is not an assessment of professional counselling practice and successful completion of the assessment does not qualify a student to practise as a counsellor. Students will be given reasonable information in advance about the assessment format, the skills and standards being assessed and what will be expected of them.

The Frederick School may use tutor observation, written assessment criteria and, where appropriate, reflective feedback from the student as part of the assessment process. A student must achieve the required standard in the live skills assessment. Where the required standard is not initially achieved, the student will be offered one reassessment opportunity in accordance with Clause 17 of these Terms and Conditions.

15. Written assessment

Students will be required to complete a formal written assessment as part of the course. The assessment will normally take the form of an exam-style question paper designed to assess the student’s understanding of the knowledge, concepts and principles covered during the programme.

Students may be assessed on areas including their understanding of counselling skills, counselling theory, ethical awareness, boundaries, the counselling relationship, self-awareness, communication, and the appropriate application of course learning.

The assessment is intended to evaluate the student’s understanding of the course material at the level and standard expected for this programme. It is not an assessment of professional counselling practice and successful completion of the assessment does not qualify a student to practise as a counsellor. Students will be given reasonable information in advance about the assessment format, the areas of learning that may be assessed, the conditions under which it will be completed and the standard required.

The Frederick School may use a written marking framework, assessment criteria and tutor judgement in determining whether the required standard has been achieved. A student must achieve the required standard in the written assessment. Where the required standard is not initially achieved, the student will be offered one reassessment opportunity in accordance with Clause 17 of these Terms and Conditions.

Assessment integrity
Assessment work must represent the student’s own knowledge and understanding. Students must not submit work produced by another person, use artificial intelligence to generate assessment answers, or obtain other unauthorised assistance unless The Frederick School has expressly permitted its use for a particular purpose.

Where there are reasonable grounds to believe that assessed work is not substantially the student’s own, The Frederick School may investigate the matter before determining the assessment outcome. The student will be given a reasonable opportunity to respond to any concern raised.

Where a breach of assessment integrity is established, The Frederick School may take proportionate action having regard to the nature and seriousness of the breach. This may include requiring the assessment to be undertaken again, treating the assessment as not having met the required standard, or dealing with the matter under the conduct provisions set out elsewhere in these Terms and Conditions. Any reassessment opportunity will remain subject to Clause 17.

16. Mandatory pass requirements

The live skills assessment and the written assessment are separate mandatory pass requirements.

Students must successfully pass both assessments in order to be eligible for the course certificate. A pass in one assessment cannot compensate for a fail in the other. A student who successfully meets all other course requirements but does not pass both the live skills assessment and the written assessment will not be awarded the course certificate unless and until the outstanding mandatory assessment has been successfully passed. Similarly, successfully passing both mandatory assessments does not, by itself, guarantee successful completion of the course. Students must also meet all other participation, assessment and completion requirements set out in these Terms and Conditions.

Where a student does not initially achieve the required standard in one or both mandatory assessments, they will be offered one reassessment opportunity for each assessment not passed, in accordance with Clause 17 of these Terms and Conditions.

17. Reassessment and deferred assessment

Students are normally permitted a maximum of two attempts to successfully complete each mandatory assessment: the original assessment and, where required, one reassessment. Where a student does not achieve the required standard at the first attempt, they will be offered one reassessment opportunity.

Before reassessment, the student will normally receive appropriate feedback identifying the areas in which the required standard was not demonstrated. Students will then be given a reasonable period in which to review that feedback, reflect on their performance and prepare independently for the reassessment. The timing of a reassessment will be determined by The Frederick School and may take place after the scheduled end date of the course. Where a reassessment takes place after the course has ended, the course certificate will not be awarded unless and until the outstanding mandatory assessment has been successfully passed. A reassessment must meet the same required standard as the original assessment. The assessment standard will not be lowered because it is a second attempt.

Lateness or non-attendance at an assessment

Students are expected to arrive in sufficient time to be ready for the scheduled start of an assessment. Where a student arrives late, The Frederick School will consider whether they can reasonably be admitted without disrupting other students, compromising the fairness or integrity of the assessment, or preventing the assessment from being completed appropriately.

A student who is admitted late will not normally be given additional assessment time solely because of their late arrival. For a live skills assessment, late arrival may mean that the assessment cannot proceed as scheduled where this would adversely affect other participants or the structure of the assessment. Where a student is unable to complete an assessment at the scheduled time because of illness, significant travel disruption, an emergency or another circumstance which the School considers reasonable, the assessment may be deferred to another date. A deferred assessment does not count as one of the student’s permitted assessment attempts. The student will therefore retain the same number of assessment attempts that were available before the deferral.

Where a student fails to attend an assessment, or arrives too late for the assessment to proceed, without a reasonable explanation or appropriate notification, The Frederick School may treat that occasion as one of the student’s permitted assessment attempts. Where an assessment attempt is treated as used in this way, that attempt is lost. If it was the student’s first attempt, they will have only their one permitted reassessment remaining.

Final assessment outcome

Where a student does not achieve the required standard following their permitted reassessment, they will not have met the mandatory pass requirement for that assessment and the course certificate will not be awarded.

There is no automatic entitlement to any further assessment attempt beyond the original assessment and one reassessment. The normal assessment and reassessment arrangements are included within the course fee and no additional reassessment fee will be charged.

18. Successful completion and certification

The Frederick School course certificate will be awarded only where the student has successfully met the course requirements as a whole.

This includes:

achieving the required standard in both mandatory assessments;
meeting the participation and engagement requirements of the course;
completing any other required assessment or reflective work;
demonstrating an appropriate level of development across the programme; and
attending at least 16 of the 18 scheduled teaching sessions, subject to the individual-circumstances and reasonable-adjustment provisions set out below.

Successful completion is determined by the overall evidence available to The Frederick School and is not based on attendance alone. A student who has passed both mandatory assessments may still be withheld from certification where other essential course requirements have not been met. Likewise, completion of all other course activities does not compensate for failing either mandatory assessment.

The course certificate confirms successful completion of The Frederick School’s independent counselling training programme(s). It does not qualify the holder to practise as a counsellor, does not constitute professional registration or accreditation, and is not an Ofqual-regulated qualification.

Where all requirements have been successfully met, the certificate will normally be issued after final completion decisions have been confirmed by the School.

Attendance

Students are normally required to attend at least 16 of the 18 scheduled teaching sessions in order to successfully complete the course and be eligible for the course certificate. Attendance below this level may mean that the course requirements have not been met, even where the student has successfully passed the mandatory assessments. Where absence is connected to illness, disability or another significant circumstance, The Frederick School will consider the individual circumstances and any reasonable adjustments that may be appropriate. This does not, however, guarantee that the attendance requirement can be waived where too much essential teaching, skills practice or experiential learning has been missed.

Section 4 - School policies and important information

19. Suitability and admission
Before a place on the course is offered, applicants are required to take part in a suitability interview with The Frederick School. The purpose of the suitability process is to consider whether the course appears appropriate for the applicant and whether they appear to have sufficient capacity to engage with and develop within its essential learning requirements.

The course involves interpersonal and experiential learning and requires students to take part in counselling-skills practice, group learning, personal reflection, feedback and assessment. Applicants are therefore expected to demonstrate sufficient potential to engage with another person’s experience, listen and respond appropriately, reflect on their own responses and behaviour, receive and consider feedback, work respectfully with others, and engage with the personal and relational demands of the programme. Applicants are not expected to demonstrate developed counselling competence before beginning the course. The suitability process is intended to consider whether there appears to be a reasonable foundation from which the skills and capacities taught on the course can be developed.

Suitability also includes consideration of whether an applicant’s current circumstances appear reasonably compatible with the practical, personal and experiential demands of the course. This may include their ability to attend regularly, undertake required learning and assessment activities, make sufficient time for the course alongside work, study, caring responsibilities or other commitments, and engage safely and constructively with its reflective and interpersonal content. The Frederick School may discuss any current circumstances which an applicant identifies as potentially affecting their ability to undertake the course. Such circumstances will not automatically make an applicant unsuitable. The purpose of the discussion is to consider their likely impact on participation and whether the applicant appears realistically able to meet the requirements of the programme at that time.

The suitability process may include discussion, reflective questions and a brief interpersonal or listening exercise. Any such exercise is intended to support the assessment of suitability and is not an assessment of developed counselling competence. Suitability decisions will be based on the requirements of the course and the information reasonably available at the time. They will not be based solely on a disability, diagnosis, health condition or other protected characteristic. Where an applicant has a disability or other individual need which may affect participation in the suitability process or the course, The Frederick School will consider whether reasonable adjustments may enable the applicant to meet the essential requirements of the programme. Reasonable adjustments may change the way in which an applicant or student accesses or demonstrates an essential requirement, but they cannot remove or fundamentally alter the relational, reflective, participatory, safety or assessment standards which form part of successful completion of the course.

Following the suitability process, The Frederick School may decide not to offer a place where, having considered the applicant’s circumstances and any reasonable adjustments that may be appropriate, it reasonably considers that the course is not presently suitable for them. Being offered a place following the suitability process does not guarantee successful completion of the course. Students remain required to meet the participation, conduct, assessment and completion requirements set out in these Terms and Conditions.

20. Equality, inclusion and reasonable adjustments

The Frederick School is committed to providing a learning environment in which applicants and students are treated fairly, respectfully and without unlawful discrimination, harassment or victimisation. If you have a disability, health condition or other individual need which may affect your participation in the course or its assessments, you are encouraged to let The Frederick School know as early as reasonably possible. This allows us to consider whether any reasonable adjustments or alternative arrangements may be appropriate.

Requests for reasonable adjustments will be considered individually and sensitively, taking account of your particular circumstances, the nature of the course, the adjustment requested and what can reasonably be provided within the teaching and venue arrangements available. Reasonable adjustments may include changes to the way in which you access learning materials, participate in particular activities or undertake an assessment, where appropriate. The purpose of an adjustment is to reduce an avoidable disadvantage while preserving the essential learning and assessment requirements of the course.

An adjustment cannot remove or fundamentally alter an essential relational, reflective, participatory, safety or assessment requirement. All students must ultimately demonstrate the skills, knowledge and competencies required by the assessment standard for successful completion of the course.

Where a requested adjustment depends upon facilities or arrangements controlled by the venue rather than The Frederick School, we will make reasonable enquiries and, where practicable, work with the venue to consider what can reasonably be provided. Where a particular requested adjustment cannot reasonably be made, The Frederick School will, where appropriate, consider whether another reasonable arrangement could reduce or remove the disadvantage.

Any agreed adjustment may be reviewed during the course if a student’s circumstances change, if the adjustment is not working as intended, or if another reasonable arrangement appears more appropriate.

21. Student wellbeing and limits of support

The course includes experiential, interpersonal and reflective learning. Some topics, discussions or exercises may therefore raise personal feelings, memories or experiences, and students should be prepared for an appropriate degree of personal reflection as part of the learning process.

Students are encouraged to exercise appropriate judgement about what they choose to disclose during group discussion, skills practice and reflective activities. Participation in the course does not require students to disclose deeply private or sensitive personal information where this is not reasonably necessary for the learning or assessment activity. The Frederick School is an educational provider and the course is not counselling, psychotherapy or a substitute for personal therapeutic, medical or other professional support. Although the tutor is a qualified counsellor, their relationship with students on the course is primarily that of tutor and student and should not be regarded as a therapeutic relationship.

Students are expected to take reasonable responsibility for monitoring their own wellbeing and for raising concerns as early as reasonably possible if personal circumstances, emotional difficulties or other issues are affecting their ability to participate safely and constructively in the course. Students should not rely upon the tutor to identify difficulties which have not otherwise become apparent. Where a student appears distressed, overwhelmed or otherwise unable to participate appropriately in a particular activity, the tutor may speak with them privately and may, where appropriate, suggest a pause from an activity or session or encourage them to seek suitable support outside the course. Experiencing personal difficulty will not in itself mean that a student cannot continue with the course. Where, however, a student’s circumstances or wellbeing substantially affects their ability to participate safely, engage appropriately with other students, meet the essential requirements of the programme or benefit constructively from the learning, The Frederick School may review their suitability to continue in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.

Students are also expected to exercise appropriate care towards other members of the group. Skills practice, personal development activities and group discussion should be undertaken in a manner which respects the boundaries and wellbeing of other students and should not be deliberately used to place another student in a therapeutic role or expose them to material beyond what is appropriate within a training environment. Where a student requires counselling, psychotherapy, medical care, crisis support or another form of specialist support, it is their responsibility to seek this through an appropriate external service or professional. The Frederick School does not provide these services as part of the course.

22. Safeguarding and serious concerns

The Frederick School takes the safety and wellbeing of students and others seriously. If information is disclosed or circumstances arise which give The Frederick School reasonable cause to believe that a student or another person may be at significant risk of harm, abuse, neglect or exploitation, the tutor may need to take appropriate action. Where reasonably possible, concerns will normally be discussed with the student before further action is taken. However, there may be circumstances in which it is necessary or appropriate to act without the student’s agreement, particularly where there is a serious or immediate risk of harm or where disclosure is required or authorised by law.

Any information shared in response to a safeguarding or serious welfare concern will, so far as reasonably possible, be limited to what is necessary and shared only with an appropriate person, service or authority. Students should therefore understand that confidentiality within the course is not absolute where safeguarding, serious risk of harm or a legal obligation requires information to be disclosed. The Frederick School is not an emergency, crisis or safeguarding service. Where urgent or specialist support is required, students will normally be expected to seek appropriate emergency, medical, safeguarding or other professional support. This does not prevent The Frederick School from contacting an appropriate service or authority where it reasonably considers that immediate action is necessary to protect the student or another person from serious harm.

23. Complaints and assessment appeals

The Frederick School aims to deal with concerns fairly, respectfully and as promptly as reasonably possible. Students are encouraged to raise concerns at an early stage where this may allow an issue to be resolved informally.

Complaints

If you are dissatisfied with an aspect of the course, teaching, administration, conduct or the way in which a decision affecting you has been handled, you should normally raise the matter with The Frederick School in the first instance. Where the matter cannot be resolved informally, you may make a formal complaint in writing, setting out the nature of the concern, any relevant circumstances and the outcome you are seeking. The Frederick School will consider the complaint fairly, may request further information where reasonably necessary, and will provide a written response explaining the outcome and, where appropriate, any action to be taken. Where a formal complaint challenges a significant decision made under these Terms and Conditions, The Frederick School will reconsider that decision in light of the grounds raised and any relevant information provided. Where reasonably necessary to ensure fair consideration, the School may seek the view of an appropriately independent person. A student will not be disadvantaged or treated less favourably simply because they have raised a concern or made a complaint in good faith.

Assessment appeals

Students are entitled to receive an explanation of the outcome of their assessments and may ask for clarification or feedback where they do not understand how an assessment decision was reached. If you believe that an assessment decision was materially affected by an error in the assessment process, a failure to apply the published assessment requirements fairly, relevant evidence not being properly considered, or an agreed reasonable adjustment not being provided, you may request a formal review of the assessment decision.

An assessment appeal must explain the grounds on which the review is requested. Disagreement with the assessor’s professional or academic judgement, without further grounds, will not normally be sufficient by itself to overturn an assessment decision. An assessment appeal should normally be submitted in writing within 10 working days of the assessment outcome being communicated to the student. Where an appeal is submitted after this period, The Frederick School may consider it where there is a reasonable explanation for the delay or where fairness otherwise requires the matter to be reviewed. The Frederick School will reconsider the assessment and the circumstances raised in the appeal and will provide a reasoned written outcome. Where it is reasonably necessary to ensure a fair review, The Frederick School may seek the view of an appropriately qualified person who was not involved in the original assessment.

An assessment appeal does not automatically entitle a student to a further assessment attempt, additional reassessment opportunity or a pass. Any reassessment remains subject to the assessment and completion provisions set out elsewhere in these Terms and Conditions.

Making a complaint or assessment appeal does not affect any statutory rights which you may have.

24. Course materials, copyright and recording

Course materials provided by The Frederick School, including handouts, worksheets, slides, exercises, assessment materials and other teaching resources, are provided for students’ personal educational use in connection with the course. Unless otherwise stated, copyright and other intellectual property rights in materials created by The Frederick School remain with The Frederick School or the relevant rights holder. Students may download, print and retain course materials for their own personal study. Materials must not be reproduced, published, sold, commercially exploited, substantially distributed to others, uploaded to publicly accessible websites or social media, or used for the delivery of another course or training programme without prior written permission.

Students must not make audio, video or photographic recordings of teaching sessions, group discussions, skills practice, assessments or other students without the prior permission of The Frederick School and, where relevant, the agreement of any other person who would be recorded. This restriction is intended to protect the privacy, confidentiality and psychological safety of students as well as the intellectual property associated with the course. Where recording or another alternative means of accessing teaching is requested as part of a reasonable adjustment, The Frederick School will consider the request individually. Any agreed arrangement may be subject to conditions designed to protect the confidentiality and privacy of other students and the integrity of course materials.

Students must not share or publish material disclosed by another student during skills practice, reflective exercises or group discussion, including through social media, messaging services or other digital platforms. A breach of this clause may be dealt with under the conduct, warning, suspension and termination provisions set out elsewhere in these Terms and Conditions. Any action taken will depend on the nature and seriousness of the breach and the surrounding circumstances.

25. Privacy and personal information

The Frederick School will collect and use personal information where reasonably necessary to manage applications, assess suitability, administer bookings and payments, deliver the course, maintain attendance and assessment records, communicate with students, provide reasonable adjustments where appropriate, and meet legal, regulatory or professional obligations. Personal information may include information provided during the application and suitability process, contact details, payment and booking information, attendance records, assessment results, correspondence and other information arising through participation in the course. Where a student voluntarily provides information concerning their health, disability or other sensitive personal circumstances, this will be handled with appropriate care and confidentiality.

Personal information will only be used and shared where there is an appropriate reason for doing so. This may include sharing limited information with service providers used to operate the course, where required by law, or where disclosure is reasonably necessary in connection with a safeguarding or serious risk concern as described elsewhere in these Terms and Conditions.

The Frederick School will take reasonable steps to keep personal information secure and will retain information only for as long as reasonably necessary having regard to the purpose for which it was collected and any applicable legal, administrative or professional requirements. Further information about how The Frederick School collects, uses, stores and shares personal information, the lawful bases on which personal information is processed, any applicable conditions for processing special category data, applicable retention periods and your data protection rights is set out in The Frederick School Privacy Policy.

Students are responsible for providing accurate contact information and for informing The Frederick School of any relevant changes during the course.

26. Venue and third-party arrangements

The course is delivered by The Frederick School at premises made available by a third-party venue provider. The Frederick School operates independently from the venue provider and is solely responsible for the administration, teaching, assessment and management of the course. The venue provider is not responsible for applications, admissions, payments, course content, teaching, assessment decisions, student complaints, certification or other matters relating to the operation of The Frederick School. Students should direct all such enquiries to The Frederick School.

Students attending the venue are required to comply with any reasonable rules relating to access, security, health and safety, use of facilities and conduct which apply to people using the premises. Students must also treat venue staff, property and other users of the premises respectfully.

Access to the venue is limited to the areas and times reasonably required for participation in the course. Enrolment with The Frederick School does not provide any wider entitlement to use facilities or services operated by the venue provider. Some aspects of the premises and facilities are outside the direct control of The Frederick School. Where a problem with the venue materially affects delivery of the course, The Frederick School will take reasonable steps to minimise disruption and, where appropriate, seek a suitable alternative arrangement. If the advertised teaching venue becomes temporarily or permanently unavailable for reasons outside The Frederick School’s reasonable control, an alternative suitable venue may be used where reasonably necessary. Any such change will be handled in accordance with the course-change provisions set out elsewhere in these Terms and Conditions, including the protections applying where a change is significant.

Nothing in this clause excludes or limits The Frederick School’s responsibility for providing the course with reasonable care and skill or affects any statutory rights available to students.

27. Personal belongings, loss and liability

Students are responsible for their own personal belongings while attending the course and should take reasonable care of any items brought onto the premises. The Frederick School cannot accept responsibility for loss of, theft of or damage to personal belongings where this has not been caused by a breach of duty or negligence on the part of The Frederick School. Students should not bring valuable or unnecessary items to the course and should keep personal possessions with them or otherwise appropriately secured. Students are responsible for any loss or damage which they deliberately cause, or which results from their negligent or unreasonable conduct, to property belonging to The Frederick School, the venue provider or another person.

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes or limits any liability which cannot lawfully be excluded or limited, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence or The Frederick School’s responsibility to provide the course with reasonable care and skill.

Nothing in this clause affects your statutory rights.

28. Changes to these Terms and legal provisions

The Frederick School may review and update these Terms and Conditions from time to time, including to reflect changes in law, regulatory or professional guidance, administrative arrangements or the future development of its courses. Any updated Terms will normally apply to future bookings only. The version of the Terms and Conditions applying to your booking will normally be the version in force when your Booking Confirmation is issued.

Changes made after your Booking Confirmation will not automatically alter your existing contract. Where a change affecting an existing booking is required by law, or where a minor administrative or technical change is reasonably necessary and does not materially disadvantage you, The Frederick School will inform you as soon as reasonably practicable. No change will be used to remove or materially reduce your existing contractual or statutory rights. Any significant change to the course itself will remain subject to the course-change provisions set out elsewhere in these Terms and Conditions.

If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found by a court or other competent authority to be unlawful, invalid or unenforceable, that provision will cease to apply to the extent necessary, but the remaining provisions will continue to apply so far as legally possible. A failure or delay by The Frederick School in exercising a right under these Terms and Conditions on a particular occasion does not automatically mean that the right has been permanently waived. These Terms and Conditions and the contract between you and The Frederick School are governed by the law of England and Wales. Nothing in this clause prevents a consumer who is entitled by law to rely on mandatory legal protections or to bring proceedings in another UK jurisdiction from doing so.

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes, restricts or overrides any statutory rights which cannot lawfully be excluded or restricted.