Stonebridge College - Distance Learning

I enrolled on level 3 teaching assistant course a few years ago, which I completed and had all 11 units marked by an assessor (definitely copy and paste marked as they put the wrong name on one of my feedback sheets.)
I completed the course and sent in my final mentor statement.
After waiting for my certificate to arrive and never receiving it I contacted the college and was told I had stopped studying in July 2015.
I had, in fact, taken a study break as advised by Stonebridge College, due to school summer holidays and not being able to complete the assessment within the timeframe as I needed to be in the classroom.
I then restarted, and had the rest of my assignments passed and marked by a tutor.
Stonebridge College have informed me that according to them, I never studied again from July 2015.
I have my assessment marked, and correspondence from the college, and my tutor, proving that I studied and finished in the middle of 2016.
Whenever I rang the same man would fob me off, saying they would look into it and contact me within 24 hours, but I would never receive that phone call, so I would ring again, starting a vicious circle.
I gave up and posted a bad review on Google, of which I received a reply from the company. This seemed hopeful as any other attempts with communication had failed.
After numerous emails with David, where I explained I hadn't taken a 12 month study break and have emails and marked assessments for that period, here's the reply..

Hi Sarah, I’m sorry to read that you are upset by this outcome.

I have however since been advised that you would be required to restart the course from scratch and fund it privately, should you wish to continue.

Kind regards

David

So please be aware that this online college isnt as it seems, and I would advise anyone looking to study online, or know of anyone who is thinking of, to stay clear.
I have a student loan of nearly £600 but no qualification, and the online college who will admit no fault on their side.

 

Well, if I'm understanding this correctly, they don't appear to be recognized to award degrees. They are also not listed like feeder schools would by the UK Government:

https://www.gov.uk/check-a-university-is-officially-recognised

EDIT: However, I have seen on at least one occasion where a school wasn't listed and they were a feeder for a few other universities, so perhaps you don't have to be listed to do that (that's an area I'm still trying to figure out with the UK system), but I don't see this school claiming any affiliations with a degree-granting school either.

They mention at the bottom of their front page that they're registered with the UK Register of Learning Providers, but that's a process that isn't in any way any sort of accreditation or endorsement of quality by the UK Government, it's pretty much just a directory.

 

I earned a Diploma in Workplace Psychology from Stonebridge Associated Colleges in 2012. I also received an NCFE Level 3 certification with my diploma. Never used it but I learned a lot in the course and the assignments were challenging. I mean it's psychology and it tests your critical thinking ability.

 

That's because they aren't permitted to award degrees, or tutor for the degrees of other schools. And as far as I know, they make no claim to be. A Level 3 Qualification is WAY far from a degree. More like a Penn Foster or Ashworth career diploma, perhaps - no degree. I realize Penn Foster and Ashworth also have degree programs while Stonebridge doesn't, but I'm not talking about their degree programs.

 

We're actually saying the same thing:

The only difference with what Stonebridge offers vs. Ashworth or Penn Foster may be that Ashworth and Penn Foster's career diplomas sometimes count for 3-6 college credits depending on the program (at least this is what I was told by Ashworth a few years ago when I inquired about it and I believe they were meaning this in the context of gaining credits with them and not other institutions. I've never taken one of their diploma programs myself and tried to use it for credit). I'd imagine getting credit for a Stonebridge program may be tough if at all possible if it is way far from a degree.

 

The UKRLP does not quality assure or accredit in any way the learning provision of the provider.

As far as Stonebridge College it appears to be headed/run by 2 persons - a couple? Or the same person?
Registered office address Stonebridge House 42 Ocean View Rd Bude EX23 8ST
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/03913572/officers
7 officers / 2 resignations
Susan Mary JANSE VAN RENSBURG holds the following roles/jobs.
Role - Director,
Secretary,
Occupation -College Registrar
College Principal
Pienaar Jacobus, JANSE VAN RENSBURG
Marketing Manager
It Systems Consultant
Company status
Active
Correspondence address
23 Ocean View Road, Bude, Cornwall, EX23 8NN
Same correspondence address
E-LEARN.UK LIMITED
Registered office address Stonebridge House 42 Ocean View Rd Bude EX23 8ST

Do they have small claims court there?

Appears some courses that they offer can lead to registered qualifications on RQF from recognized association or institute.
Example ILM qualifications or the Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training RQF.
Teaching Assistant certificate may be useful for such a job, I didn't check in to UK requirements for TA's.

 

I did. they're here. https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/teaching-assistant
Looks like a Level 3 certificate would satisfy the academic requirements - you also need direct experience with children.

Where I live (Ontario) you have to log a ton of mandatory classroom hours with kids in the learning process. Plus pass a police check - and a "priest-check" from the Church - only if you're working in the Catholic school system.

 

Hopefully, someone is checking the Priests...