Opportunities For Online Education

• Published date: 29 June 2020
• Subject Matter: Consumer Protection, Intellectual Property, Media, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment, IT and Internet, Licensing & Syndication, Education
• Law Firm: Veale Wasbrough Vizards
• Author: Robert Collier

On 10 June 2020 the Government published its response to consultation on the Online Education Accreditation Scheme (Scheme).

The purpose of this voluntary Scheme will be to provide a quality assurance framework for those providers operating online-only on a permanent basis. It does not impact on schools and colleges currently providing educational services remotely as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. However, as outlined below, it provides a timely prompt for schools and colleges to consider whether on-line provision of education could present an opportunity to diversify revenue streams.

What Does the Response Say?

The Government expects the Scheme to be operational for UK based online providers from September 2020. A Quality Assurance Board will be appointed in August 2020 and will provide an inspection service for those providers wishing to become accredited under the Scheme and subsequently for those who wish to remain accredited in future years.

Successful applicants for accreditation will need to demonstrate during an initial inspection by the Quality Assurance Board that they meet the regulatory requirements set out in proposed standards. The draft standards, to be known as the Online Education Standards, draw significantly on the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 and therefore will appear familiar to senior leadership teams.

What You Should Consider

While the Scheme is available for online-only providers, it does present opportunities for independent schools to consider, including diversification...