Case Summaries
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Case summary April 2026 | Settled
A provider withdrew a student because of low attendance. The student appealed the decision to withdraw them, saying that their record of attendance had been affected by a faulty access card. The provider reinstated the student on the condition that, by a certain deadline, they would attend all sessions with all attendance swipes recorded and that the student would meet with the student support team.
Following reinstatement, the student’s tutor approved two absences due to a bereavement but the student was withdrawn a second time. The second withdrawal was actioned before the deadline had passed for the student to show improvement with engagement and meet with the student support team. The student was not offered a right of appeal against this decision.
The student complained to us and wanted to return to their studies immediately. They made it clear that the complaint was time sensitive as they were in danger of missing upcoming examinations, which would delay their progress into the next academic year. They also had concerns about their access to future student funding if the withdrawal decision remained.
We contacted the provider and asked it to consider settling the complaint. We explained our concerns that the student had not had the full opportunity to demonstrate improved attendance by the deadline given. It was not fair that the student did not have a right of appeal against the final withdrawal decision. The provider acknowledged that it would not be able to consider an appeal from the student before the exam period which was about to begin. Instead, it offered a pragmatic outcome. It agreed to take the student back on the course immediately. This allowed the student to sit the imminent examinations in the same academic session and progress to the next stage of the course.
The settlement was agreed within five working days of our initial assessment of the student’s complaint. The student said,
“Thank you for your support and assistance throughout the process relating to my complaint. I am pleased to confirm that I have accepted the University’s offer and will be reinstated to complete my studies. I am extremely grateful for the speed, clarity, and fairness with which the OIA handled my case during what has been a difficult and uncertain time for me. Your guidance and involvement have made a real difference, and I am now looking forward to re-engaging fully with my studies and completing my degree. Thank you once again for your time and support.”