The Conveyancing Academy
4 February, 2022
The CLC has been extremely concerned by the issues at the Conveyancing Academy and the experience of students and their employers. However, the Conveyancing Academy is overseen by the SQA. The CLC has no management or control over the Conveyancing Academy or any of the other education providers approved by the SQA. This is not part of CLC’s regulatory remit which is the regulation of legal services under the Legal Services Act 2007. We do have an expectation of any centre unable to honour its commitment to CLC students that it works openly with the appropriate agencies and self and employer funded students to facilitate the necessary student transfer arrangements.
Since the CLC became aware of the issues at the Conveyancing Academy, in November 2021, we have been helping the SQA and funding agencies as far as we can as they provide information and practical assistance to help students continue the course of study they choose. Below, there are FAQ from the SQA for students and employers.
Responsibility for the maintenance of qualification assessment standards falls to the SQA and governance of apprenticeship quality and funding compliance to the ESFA and Welsh Work based Learning Department. They are the responsible regulatory bodies with oversight of the Conveyancing Academy’s approved status as an SQA qualification centre and as an apprenticeship training provider.
The role of the CLC is to set the standards (academic and occupational) for individuals seeking to become eligible to register as a national conveyancing or probate technician and the entry standards into the profession for those seeking to licence as a CLC Lawyer.
This model has generally served the profession well, increasing the numbers of newly qualified lawyers entering the profession and helping to meet the growing demand for Licensed Conveyancers and Probate Practitioners. It is very regrettable that the current incident is doing so much to undermine confidence in this otherwise successful and robust arrangement.
We trust that the SQA and funding agencies will now be able to provide students and employers with the necessary information to assist them to transfer their studies and funding arrangements to new providers, though we accept that this could take some weeks to achieve. We urge students to come forward so that they can be helped.
Information for students and their employers from the SQA
Convey365 Ltd/The Conveyancing Academy was suspended from offering SQA approved qualifications or advertising itself as an SQA approved centre on 21 April 2021.
Convey365 Ltd/The Conveyancing Academy has not registered any candidates with SQA since then. This includes the Level 4 and Level 6 Conveyancing Qualification.
As of 21 January 2022, Convey365 Ltd/The Conveyancing Academy is no longer a SQA Approved Centre and has no licence to advertise as such or to enrol learners on any SQA qualifications.
The SQA is working with other providers of those qualifications and with funding agencies to identify solutions for students who have been under the impression that they are working towards an SQA diploma with Convey 365 Ltd/The Conveyancing Academy.
Frequently asked questions
Students
Q: I enrolled/have been doing a SQA diploma in conveyancing/probate with Convey365 Ltd/The Conveyancing Academy – why can’t I finish the course/be awarded the diploma?
Convey365 Ltd/The Conveyancing Academy was suspended from offering SQA approved qualifications or advertising itself as an SQA approved centre on 21 April 2021.
Convey365 Ltd/The Conveyancing Academy has not registered any candidates with SQA since then.
If you have been under the impression that you are working towards an SQA diploma with Convey 365 Ltd/The Conveyancing Academy, please speak to the company in the first instance to discuss securing an alternative training provider and the return of any fees you have paid.
As of 21 January 2022, Convey365 Ltd/The Conveyancing Academy is no longer a SQA Approved Centre and has no licence to advertise as such or to enrol learners on any SQA qualifications.
Q: I have spoken to Convey365 Ltd/The Conveyancing Academy, and they say they can’t help me find another training provider and will not refund the fees I have paid – can you help?
We are currently working with funding agencies in England and Wales to look at how we can support individuals to enrol with other training providers who are approved to offer the SQA diplomas. If you leave your contact details, we’ll update you as soon as we can.
With regards to any fees you paid Convey365 Ltd/The Conveyancing Academy, we suggest you contact a consumer affairs organisation such as the Citizens Advice Bureau.
If you thought you were doing the SQA diploma as part of an apprenticeship, the relevant funding agency is also aware of the situation. If you contact them, they may be able to help you find another training provider.
In Wales: askWBL@gov.wales
In England: complaints.ESFA@education.gov.uk
Employers
Q: I have sent employees to Convey365 Ltd/The Conveyancing Academy to study for the SQA diploma in conveyancing/probate – why are they not getting the SQA diploma?
Convey365 Ltd/The Conveyancing Academy was suspended from offering SQA approved qualifications or advertising itself as an SQA approved centre on 21 April 2021.
Convey365 Ltd/The Conveyancing Academy has not registered any candidates with SQA since then.
If your employees have been under the impression that they are working towards an SQA diploma with Convey 365b Ltd/The Conveyancing Academy from this date, please speak to the company in the first instance to discuss securing an alternative training provider and the return of any fees you have paid.
If your employees were under the impression that they were doing the SQA diplomas as part of an apprenticeship, the relevant funding agency is also aware of the situation.
As of 21 January 2022, Convey365 Ltd/The Conveyancing Academy is no longer a SQA Approved Centre and has no licence to advertise as such or to enrol learners on any SQA qualifications.
Q: I have spoken to Convey365 Ltd/The Conveyancing Academy, and they say they can’t help me find another training provider for my employees and will not refund the fees I have paid – can you help?
We are currently working with funding agencies in England and Wales to look at how we can support individuals to enrol with other training providers who are approved to offer the SQA diplomas. If you leave your contact details, we’ll update you as soon as we can.
With regards to any fees you paid Convey365 Ltd/The Conveyancing Academy, we suggest you contact a consumer affairs organisation such as the Citizens Advice Bureau.
If your employees thought they were taking the SQA diploma as part of an apprenticeship, the relevant funding agency is also aware of the situation. If you contact them, they will be able to help you find another training provider.
In Wales: askWBL@gov.wales
In England: complaints.ESFA@education.gov.uk
Q: Why didn’t you inform us of this situation in April 2021
Convey365 Ltd/The Conveyancing Academy was suspended from offering SQA approved qualifications or advertising itself as an SQA approved centre on 21 April 2021 and has not registered any candidates with SQA since then.
Despite this, the company has continued to advertise itself as an SQA approved centre and has offered SQA approved qualifications to learners when it has not been in a position to deliver them.
We have been actively pursuing the case through our established procedures.
As of 21 January 2022, Convey365 Ltd/The Conveyancing Academy is no longer a SQA Approved Centre and has no licence to advertise as such or to enrol learners on any SQA qualifications.
Relevant third party agencies are aware of this situation and are working to address the challenges raised. It may take some weeks before all candidates and employers are able to finalise their next steps
