Access & Participation Statement

Submitted in accordance with Condition A2 of the Office for Students Conditions of Registration

Version 1.0  |  Approved by the Board of Directors  |  February 2026

1. Introduction and Purpose

Realityjam (hereinafter referred to as "the Provider") is committed to widening participation in higher education and ensuring that every student, irrespective of their background, identity, or personal circumstances, has a genuine and equal opportunity to access, succeed in, and benefit from the higher education programmes it delivers.

This Access and Participation Statement ("the Statement") is published in fulfilment of Condition A2 of the Office for Students (OfS) Conditions of Registration, as set out in the OfS regulatory framework, Securing Student Success: Regulatory Framework for Higher Education in England. It reflects the Provider's obligations under the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 (HERA) and complements the broader requirements of Conditions B, C, and E of the OfS Conditions of Registration.

This Statement will be reviewed and republished on an annual basis in accordance with Condition A2.2 of the OfS Conditions of Registration.

2. Scope of Application

This Statement applies to all higher education programmes delivered by Realityjam, including but not limited to undergraduate and postgraduate courses, degree apprenticeships, and any programmes delivered in partnership with other higher education institutions or awarding bodies, as applicable.

This Statement applies to all prospective and enrolled students at Realityjam, and to all staff engaged in recruitment, admissions, teaching, learning support, and student services functions.

3. Commitment to Equality of Opportunity and Diversity

Realityjam is committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive environment in which all students and staff are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness. The Provider affirms that no current or prospective student shall receive less favourable treatment or be placed at a disadvantage on grounds including, but not limited to:

• Sex, gender identity, or gender reassignment
• Race, ethnicity, national origin, or colour
• Religion or belief
• Disability
• Age
• Sexual orientation
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Marriage or civil partnership
• Socioeconomic background or economic means
• Cultural background or disposition

These commitments reflect the Protected Characteristics defined under the Equality Act 2010 and extend further to characteristics not covered by statute, in particular socioeconomic background, in recognition of the Provider's duty to widen participation.

In accordance with section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, Realityjam shall, in the exercise of its functions, have due regard to the need to:

• Eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation, and any other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act 2010;
• Advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant Protected Characteristic and persons who do not; and
• Foster good relations between persons who share a relevant Protected Characteristic and persons who do not.

4. Access and Admissions Policy

Realityjam operates a fair, transparent, and merit-based admissions process. Admissions decisions shall be made solely on the basis of academic potential, aptitude, relevant skills, and the requirements of the programme in question. No applicant shall be disadvantaged by reason of their financial means, cultural background, geographic location, or any characteristic protected under the Equality Act 2010.

The Provider commits to the following measures in respect of access and admissions:

• Publishing clear, accurate, and accessible information about entry requirements, selection criteria, and admissions procedures, in compliance with Condition C1 of the OfS Conditions of Registration and relevant consumer protection obligations;
• Providing contextualised admissions processes that take account of the circumstances of applicants from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds;
• Ensuring that outreach activities and marketing materials are designed to reach and engage applicants from all social, cultural, and economic backgrounds;
• Actively working to remove financial barriers by providing information about available bursaries, scholarships, and financial support packages;
• Training all admissions staff in equality and diversity principles and in the application of fair admissions practices.

5. Financial Support and Access Measures

Realityjam recognises that economic circumstances should not determine a student's ability to access or complete a higher education programme. The Provider is committed to developing and maintaining financial support measures to assist students from lower-income households and those facing financial hardship, which may include:

• Bursaries and scholarships targeted at students from households with an income below specified thresholds;
• Hardship funds available to enrolled students experiencing unforeseen financial difficulties;
• Flexible payment arrangements for tuition fees where applicable;
• Signposting to external sources of financial support, including statutory student finance entitlements under the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 and associated regulations.

Details of all financial support available to students shall be published on the Provider's website and in pre-enrolment documentation.

6. Supporting Student Success and Equitable Outcomes

Realityjam is committed not only to widening access to higher education but to ensuring that all students, once enrolled, are supported to succeed and to realise positive outcomes. The Provider acknowledges the importance of addressing differential outcomes between student groups, including those related to ethnicity, gender, disability, and socioeconomic background.

In furtherance of this commitment, the Provider will:

• Monitor and analyse data on student attainment, continuation, completion, and graduate outcomes, disaggregated by relevant characteristics, in a manner consistent with Condition B3 of the OfS Conditions of Registration;
• Identify and act upon evidence of differential outcomes between student groups, implementing evidence-based interventions where gaps are identified;
• Provide academic and pastoral support services accessible to all students, with particular attention to the needs of students from underrepresented groups;
• Ensure that all students have access to careers advice, employability support, and guidance on progression to further study;
• Commit to a culture of inclusive teaching and learning that recognises and values the diversity of the student body.

7. Student Complaints Scheme

7.1 General Commitment

Realityjam is committed to operating a fair, accessible, and effective student complaints procedure. The Provider recognises the right of every student to raise a complaint or concern about any aspect of their higher education experience without fear of disadvantage or reprisal.

The complaints procedure shall be published and made readily accessible to all students prior to and upon enrolment, in compliance with Condition C of the OfS Conditions of Registration and the Provider's obligations under applicable consumer protection legislation.

7.2 Internal Complaints Procedure

The Provider operates a multi-stage internal complaints procedure, which includes:

• An informal stage, during which the student is encouraged to seek resolution directly with the relevant member of staff or department;
• A formal stage, at which the complaint is considered by a designated complaints officer or panel, with a written outcome provided within a specified timeframe;
• A review stage, at which the student may request a review of the formal outcome on grounds of procedural irregularity, new evidence, or disproportionate remedy.

The Provider shall ensure that complaints are handled impartially, confidentially, and within published timescales. Students shall be kept informed of the progress of their complaint throughout the process.

7.3 Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA)

Realityjam submits to the jurisdiction of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) in accordance with the Higher Education Act 2004 (as amended) and the rules and scheme of the OIA as published from time to time.

Upon completion of the Provider's internal complaints and appeals procedures, where a complaint or academic appeal has not been resolved to the student's satisfaction, the Provider shall issue the student with a Completion of Procedures Letter in a format and within a timeframe consistent with the OIA's published Rules. This letter shall notify the student of their right to refer the matter to the OIA.

The Provider shall:

• Maintain current OIA membership and comply with any decisions, recommendations, and systemic recommendations issued by the OIA in respect of complaints referred by students;
• Co-operate fully and in good faith with any investigation conducted by the OIA, providing all information and documentation requested within specified timeframes;
• Publish information about the OIA scheme and how students may access it in the Provider's complaints procedure and student-facing documentation;
• Ensure that any remedies recommended by the OIA are implemented in a timely manner.

Further information about the OIA scheme, including how to submit a complaint, is available at www.oiahe.org.uk.

8. Consumer Protection Compliance

Realityjam recognises that students are consumers of higher education services and that the Provider is subject to applicable consumer protection legislation. The Provider commits to full compliance with all relevant consumer protection laws and regulations, including but not limited to:

• The Consumer Rights Act 2015, in respect of the quality and description of services provided to students and the fairness of terms and conditions;
• The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/1277), in respect of the accuracy and completeness of information provided to prospective and enrolled students;
• The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/3134), in respect of pre-contractual information and cancellation rights where applicable;
• The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) guidance on consumer protection law as it applies to higher education providers, including the guidance published in March 2015 (CMA33) and any subsequent updates;
• Condition C1 of the OfS Conditions of Registration, which requires the Provider to have given due regard to relevant guidance on consumer protection law in developing and implementing its policies, procedures, and terms and conditions.

In particular, Realityjam commits to:

• Providing prospective students with clear, accurate, and timely information about their course, including information on fees, the structure and content of programmes, entry requirements, and any material changes, in sufficient time for an informed decision to be made prior to enrolment;
• Ensuring that the terms and conditions of enrolment are fair, transparent, and drawn to the student's attention prior to the formation of any contract;
• Not engaging in aggressive, misleading, or unfair commercial practices in the recruitment and marketing of its programmes;
• Publishing and maintaining a Student Protection Plan, where required, in accordance with Condition C3 of the OfS Conditions of Registration, to safeguard student interests in the event of a programme, campus, or institutional closure.

9. Data Collection, Monitoring, and Transparency

Realityjam shall collect, analyse, and publish data relating to access and participation in accordance with the data requirements of the OfS and its obligations under Condition A2. The Provider shall use this data to evaluate the effectiveness of its access and participation measures, identify areas for improvement, and report transparently on its performance.

All data collected for the purposes of access and participation monitoring shall be processed in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) as retained in UK law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, and the Data Protection Act 2018.

10. Governance and Accountability

Responsibility for overseeing compliance with this Statement rests with the Board of Directors of Realityjam. The Board shall review the Statement no less frequently than annually and shall satisfy itself that the commitments contained herein are being implemented effectively.

A designated senior officer shall be responsible for the day-to-day implementation of access and participation measures and shall report to the Board on progress against the objectives set out in this Statement.

This Statement shall be published on the Provider's website and made available to all current and prospective students, staff, and other stakeholders without charge.

11. Review and Update

This Statement shall be reviewed and republished on an annual basis, or sooner in the event of material changes to the Provider's operations, the applicable regulatory framework, or relevant legislation. Any material amendments shall be brought to the attention of the OfS in accordance with the notification requirements applicable to registered providers.

12. Key Regulatory and Legislative References

This Statement has been prepared with reference to the following regulatory frameworks and legislative instruments:

• Higher Education and Research Act 2017 (HERA)
• Higher Education Act 2004
• Equality Act 2010
• Consumer Rights Act 2015
• Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/1277)
• Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/3134)
• Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998
• Data Protection Act 2018 and UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)
• European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
• OfS Regulatory Framework: Securing Student Success: Regulatory Framework for Higher Education in England (OfS 2018.01, as amended)
• OfS Conditions of Registration, Conditions A2, B, C, and E
• Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) Guidance on Consumer Protection Law in Higher Education (CMA33, 2015)
• OIA Rules and Guidance, as published from time to time at www.oiahe.org.uk