Distance learning GCSE courses

QueenOfComps

Has anyone done GCSE courses via distance learning?

I done 8 GCSE's but i ended up having D's and E's so i want to redo them but i can't go back to college because i am on benefit's and if i went back to studying then my benefit's stop and i wouldnt beable to live so it has to be via distance learning but looking at the prices and its at least £250 for just one course!

Does anyone have any experience of this? Is there any financial help available for me?

dmg24

What benefits do you receive? Part time study will not affect your benefit entitlement.

QueenOfComps

I recieve Job seekers allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit as i recently lost my job and finding it very hard to get interviews so i feel i need to redo GCSEs to try and get on a career ladder.
Part time study won't affect my housing and council tax benefit but my jobseekers allowance will stop, i have asked them and i can't afford to lose £220 a month in benefits so part time study is not an option

dmg24

You have been misinformed, JSA will not be affected if you study for less than sixteen hours per week.

The only proviso is that you would have to agree to give up your study if it interfered with you seeking work, but this would be the same with distance learning also (although it would be easier to rearrange your distance learning 'hours').

QueenOfComps

oh i did say that too the jobcentre, as that's what my mum said but they said that due to the current situation, part time study students don't get job seekers allowance, only people who are working under 16 hours a week will get some job seekers allowance but not the full amount.

dmg24

They are talking rubbish, there has been no change in policy on this subject due to the current economic situation. Ask again, and ask them to put it in writing, with reference to the relevant points in the Decision Makers Guide. This should make them check their facts!

mountainofdebt

What about your local further education college? Alot of colleges do GCSEs in the evening and you would get financial help with the course fees.

I know when I was on JSA recently I had to get a learning agreement in place for the A level course that I was doing in the evening but I'm sure that under 16 hrs of study would be OK

QueenOfComps

Yeah well my first plan was to do GCSEs at my local college each course is about £50 week but i could get financial help to pay for the courses but when i told the jobcentre about it, they said i would lose some money by going back to college to redo GCSEs although everyone i have spoken to has told me that isn't the case so i really dont understand why the jobcentre won't help. I dont know if its because of what type of course i want to do or what.

I have seen loads that are distance learning and then i wouldnt have to tell the jobcentre anything but its just finding a company that will help me financially

dmg24

You would still need to advise the JCP if you were doing a distance learning course.

The JCP have taken on a lot of new staff over the past year, and whilst most are well intentioned, they do not have the knowledge to be advising, and they don't have the time (or in some cases, the willing) to ask somebody that does know.

When are you next signing on? If you don't get any joy come back to us and we'll find you the relevant information in the DMG.

DCFC79

Id do as dmg says when you next go in for your appointment,

Magnolia

I am with DMG on this one - utter horse doodoo!!!!

If you attend college full time you will lose your JS but doing a part time course will not effect it.

Do you need GCSE's? Have you considered a level 2 equivalent? They are being accepted more and more these days. The 2 qualifications you need to concentrate on are maths and English. Both of the equivalent courses will be free so are well worth thinking about. Oh and they are only 10 weeks. If you got D's in these subjects you will easily pull them up to that elusive C.

Make an appointment with the nextstep advisor at your local college. They will be able to help you sort out which courses are the best for you.

Hope this helps.