Case summary October 2019 | Justified
A fitness to practise panel reached a decision that a student was not fit for practice and should not be allowed to continue on the course. The letter to the student told the student they could appeal, and directed them to the academic appeal regulations. The student appealed and the provider rejected the appeal. The student complained to us.
Case summary October 2019 | Justified
An applicant for a PGCE course disclosed a recent criminal conviction in their written application for a place on the course, five months before the course began. After an interview, the provider made a conditional offer of a place on the course.
Case summary October 2019 | Not Justified
A final-year medical student shared with the provider that they were seeing a psychotherapist for help with complex mental health issues. The provider was made aware of concerns about the student’s fitness for practise, related to a breach of patient boundaries, and drug use. The student interrupted their studies. After a year, the student presented evidence that their mental health had improved and asked to be able to sit their final exams.
Public interest case July 2019 | Partly Justified
Cardiff University
A student who was starting a healthcare course at the provider filled out an occupational health questionnaire. The student informed the provider that they had not had any vaccinations and would not now consent to be vaccinated.
Public interest case July 2019 | Not Justified
St George’s, University of London
A medical student was accused of dishonesty in relation to drug use and trying to cheat a compulsory drug test. The provider decided that the student’s fitness to practise was impaired and terminated their studies. The student appealed but the provider rejected the appeal.
Public interest case July 2019 | Partly Justified
The London School of Economics and Political Science
A student was in their final year of a law degree. The student had adjustments in place for the final year exams because of a short-term health condition. In summer 2018 the student sat and passed all the law modules with a 2.1 but failed an accountancy module with a mark below 30.
Public interest case July 2019 | Justified
The Open University
A disabled student enrolled on a distance learning master’s degree, having successfully completed undergraduate studies at the provider. The student found the process of applying for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) more difficult than in previous years, in part due to the changes in which funding body was administering the process. The provider and the funding body had to resolve a concern about how to deal with non-conventional academic years.
Public interest case July 2019 | Justified
University of Portsmouth
A student was a refugee who had been given permission to appeal a Home Office decision about their status under “Human Rights” grounds. The student applied to the provider to join a healthcare course.
Public interest case July 2019 | Partly Justified
Wrexham Glyndwr University
A group of eight students complained to the provider about the content of their healthcare-related course, how it was delivered and the support they were given on their programme. The complaints related to the first and second years of their studies.
Public interest case July 2019 | Not Justified
York College
An undergraduate student was suspended and invited to a disciplinary meeting after a member of staff at their provider raised concerns about their behaviour. At the meeting the student said they had mental health difficulties.
