This section contains the FOI files referenced across the website e.g. ABC FOI 000.
Seven of ten AETOs are subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This does not include BPP University, the University of Law, or the Inns of Court College of Advocacy. The Bar Standards Board is not subject to the Act either.
Some information has been fully or partially withheld by AETOs using exemptions e.g. s.36(2)(b)(i) and (ii), s.40(2), s.41(1), s.43(2).
Note: the files contain information disclosed under the Act. The disclosed information has been edited for accessibility, clarity, and consistency, limited to formatting changes such as font and text size. The substantive meaning has not been changed. Redacted information is indicated by ‘[REDACTED]’ including where the original disclosure used the blanking out method. [REDACTED] is not indicative of the volume of information redacted such as the number of redacted characters, words, sentences, or paragraphs. Each item (e.g. an email thread) has its own reference in the top left corner of each page e.g. ABC FOI 000. Emails in the same thread are separated by dashed lines. Any email attachments and inline images (e.g. logos) have been removed, including references to them in email headers.
Request (made 10th November 2025):
For the 2020/21 cohort, the total numbers of students who have not completed the Vocational Component before expiry of the five years, broken down by students with/without a declared disability.
Response (received 9th December 2025):
Declared disability <5
Without declared disability <5
Note: s.40(2) exemption.
Request (made 23rd July 2025):
For the 2020/21 cohort, the total numbers of students who are yet to complete the Vocational Component, broken down by students with/without a declared disability.
Response (received 8th September 2025):
There are currently 7 students from the 20/21 cohort who are yet to complete the vocational component. Of these ≤5 have a disability.
Note: s.40(2) exemption. Additionally, the FOI request was made before the first cohort’s expiry in September 2025.
Information partially withheld (s.36(2)(b)).
Request (made 10th November 2025):
For the 2020/21 cohort, the total numbers of students who have not completed the Vocational Component before expiry of the five years, broken down by students with/without a declared disability.
Response (received 14th January 2026):
Information is not held as we did not have a 2020/21 cohort as we were authorised as a provider in November 2021.
Part of the response (received 20th March 2026):
“We have located three emails that were received from the Bar Standards Boards. These emails are generic emails sent to all programme providers, in relation to the 5 year rule, and were received by our Programme Lead within the Hertfordshire Law School as the appointed contact. The University has not responded to these emails.
As none of the correspondence has originated from the University, we felt it was necessary to consult with the BSB, as the sender, on the release of these emails. They have agreed for us to release one of three emails […]
With regards to the remaining two emails (received in April and July 2025), the BSB have expressed the view that these should be exempt from disclosure by virtue of section 36(2)(b) of the FOIA (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs) as they contain views and advice which specifically relate to the developing advice and discussion around policy at that time and which has since moved on. Therefore, having considered the BSBs views and the fact that this is not University generated correspondence, we will not be releasing the content of these two emails in response to your request at this time.”
Information withheld (s.41(1), s.43(2)).
Request (made 10th November 2025):
For the 2020/21 cohort, the total numbers of students who have not completed the Vocational Component before expiry of the five years, broken down by students with/without a declared disability.
Response (received 12th January 2026):
<5. Figures 5 and below are exempt from release and are shown as <5.
Clarified 9th April 2026:
With regards to the use of Section 40(personal data) to question 3 of your request, this has been applied to the total number of students. No figures relating to disability information has been included as this is exempt under Section 40 of the FOIA. There would be a risk where individuals are indirectly identifiable if a percentage of the total students is provided. If a percentage is provided, then this could reveal the overall figure of students.
Note: s.40(2) exemption.
Information partially withheld (s.36(2)(b)(ii)).
Request (made 10th November 2025):
For the 2020/21 cohort, the total numbers of students who have not completed the Vocational Component before expiry of the five years, broken down by students with/without a declared disability.
Response (received 9th December 2025):
Zero students.
Information withheld (s.36(2)(b)(ii)).
Part of the response (received 8th December 2025):
“The University seeks to rely on part (ii) of S36(2)(b) on the basis that disclosure would be likely to have inhibiting effects on the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation.
The University has consulted with the Bar Standards Board (BSB) in respect of this request and has concluded that the information requested relates to free and frank communications between the University and the BSB in respect of the development of policy, process and guidance regarding the ‘5-year rule’. The policy in respect of the 5-year rule is still in development and as such, disclosure of information to the public at large would likely inhibit exchange of views between the parties which is required for such development.”
Request (made 10th November 2025):
For the 2020/21 cohort, the total numbers of students who have not completed the Vocational Component before expiry of the five years, broken down by students with/without a declared disability.
Response (received 12th March 2026):
<5 and there were no declared disabilities.
Note: s.40(2) exemption. NTU is the only AETO to implement unlimited resits. This is not the same as the BPP University resit scheme open to all students who have reached the maximum number of sits at their original AETO.
Information withheld (s.36(2)(b)(i) and (ii)).
Request (made 10th November 2025):
For the 2020/21 cohort, the total numbers of students who have not completed the Vocational Component before expiry of the five years, broken down by students with/without a declared disability.
Response (received 15th December 2025):
Six students of the 2020/21 cohort were unable to complete due to Reg 5.7 (The UWE BTC must be completed within a maximum of five years from the date of enrolment). Of these <5 have a declared disability in place.
Note: s.40(2) exemption.
This section contains correspondence not obtained via the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which is referenced across the website e.g. COR 000.
Note: The correspondence has been edited for accessibility, clarity, and consistency, limited to formatting changes such as font and text size. The substantive meaning has not been changed. Personal information and irrelevant information have been redacted. Redacted information is indicated by ‘[REDACTED]’ which is not indicative of the volume of information redacted, such as the number of redacted characters, words, sentences, or paragraphs. Each email thread has its own reference in the top left corner of each page e.g. COR000. Emails in the same thread are separated by dashed lines. Any email attachments and inline images (e.g. logos) have been removed, including references to them in email headers.
This section contains some of the Bar Standards Board rules and requirements referred to across the website.
The purpose of assessment is to allow candidates to demonstrate the Competences set out in the Professional Statement. Candidates studying the vocational component must pass assessments in all subjects within five years of the date of enrolment in order to be called to the Bar. The BSB stipulates only that completion must be within five years; we do not stipulate the maximum number of attempts that a candidate may be allowed within those five years. However, AETOs’ specific regulations determine the number of re-sits available to a candidate at their institution. For the purpose of Call to the Bar no compensation for failure is permitted and no condoned failure is permitted. However, AETOs’ specific regulations may permit compensation for failure or may permit condoned failure for the purpose of making an academic award. Completion of such an award without meeting the requirements of Call to the Bar will not constitute completion of an approved Bar training route. AETOs should operate extenuating circumstances policies which ensure that a student’s final result for any individual assessment is a fair reflection of their competence. Where a student receives a mark that is at or above the pass threshold, and that is not affected by extenuating circumstances, the mark should stand, and they should not be permitted to resit purely for the purpose of improving the mark. AETOs may offer assessments in any approved mode of delivery.
Bar Standards Board, page 38, Curriculum and Assessment Strategy (December 2023) [Highlight added]
Note: The five-year rule applies to students enrolled in/after September 2020.
Note: as the ban is unpublished, its precise wording is unverified. It can be assumed from an email sent by the Bar Standards Board to AETOs with ‘proposed new wording’ of the five-year rule to which the following paragraph was added.
For this purpose, the five years will commence from the month in which the course starts and ends on the last day of the relevant month five years later. Specifically, if an AETO commences its Bar course (i.e., commences classes or makes materials available to its students) in the month of September 2020, the candidate must have completed their last assessment in the month of August 2025 (even if their results are not received before the end of August 2025). This time limit applies to both full-time and part-time candidates. The maximum time limit exists to avoid graduates proceeding to pupillage with “stale” knowledge. This period cannot be extended under any circumstances (for example candidates cannot apply for waivers or extenuating circumstances to extend the five-year period).
Bar Standards Board email to AETOs 24 April 2025 (CSG FOI 007) [highlight added].
rI7
Bar Standards Board, Section 1.B, The BSB Handbook, v.4.8, (2024)
Subject to paragraphs rI8 to rI11 below, this Handbook applies to the following categories of person:
[…]
.8 solely as regards Section 4.B of the Handbook, individuals who wish to be called to the Bar and to become qualified to practise as a barrister and authorised education and training organisations. Until 1 January 2020, for the purposes of any proceedings of the Inns Conduct Committee, Part 4 applies as if version 3.5 of the BSB Handbook were in force;
[…]
rQ3
Bar Standards Board, Section 4.B2, The BSB Handbook, v.4.8, (2024)
To be called to the Bar by an Inn an individual must have successfully completed the following:
.1 academic legal training;
.2 vocational training;
.3 the number of qualifying sessions as a student member of an Inn as prescribed from time to time by the BSB; and
.4 pay such fee or fees as may be prescribed.
rQ7
Bar Standards Board, Part 4 Section B2, The BSB Handbook, v.4.8, (2024)
The BSB may grant exemptions from all or part of the requirements set out in rQ3 to rQ5 above.
rQ8
In deciding whether to grant an exemption from part or all of any component of training, the BSB will determine whether the relevant knowledge and experience of the applicant make it unnecessary for further training to be required.
rQ9
An exemption from part or all components of training may be granted unconditionally or subject to conditions, which may include in an appropriate case:
.1 a requirement to do training instead of the training prescribed by this Section; and/or
.2 a condition that the applicant must pass a Bar Transfer Test.
rQ10
Where the BSB exempts an individual pursuant to rQ7 above, it may also:
.1 grant exemption in whole or in part from the requirement to attend qualifying sessions; and
.2 specify the period within which any requirement to attend qualifying sessions must be fulfilled, which may be a period ending after the individual concerned has been called to the Bar.
rQ11
An application for exemption under this Section must be in such form as may be prescribed by the BSB and contain or be accompanied by the following:
.1 details of the applicant’s educational and professional qualifications and experience that meets the standards required of candidates;
.2 evidence (where applicable) that the applicant is or has been entitled to exercise rights of audience before any court, specifying the rights concerned and the basis of the applicant’s entitlement to exercise such rights;
.3 any other representations or evidence on which the applicant wishes to rely in support of the application;
.4 verified English translations of every document relied on which is not in the English language; and
.5 payment of such fee or fees as may be prescribed.
rQ12
Before deciding whether to grant any exemption under this Section, the BSB may make any further enquiries or require the applicant to provide any further information that it considers relevant.
Note: see ‘Call to the Bar training requirements’ above for rQ3.