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BPP University

Coordinates: 51°30′18″N 0°13′23″W / 51.50500°N 0.22306°W / 51.50500; -0.22306
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(Redirected from BPP Business School)

BPP University
Former names
BPP Law School (1992)
BPP College of Professional Studies (2005)
BPP University College of Professional Studies (2010)
MottoUniversity for the Professions
TypePrivate, for-profit
Established1992; 32 years ago
Parent institution
BPP Holdings, TDR Capital
ChancellorMartyn W Jones
Vice-chancellorTim Stuart
Students27,505 (2022/23) [1]
Location
6 London centres, 12 across rest of England, and 2 in Channel Islands
Websitebpp.com

BPP University is a private university in the United Kingdom. BPP university has courses in law, MSc management and project management, professional development, and accountancy and tax.

History

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Founding and early years (1976-2013)

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The university takes its name from the founders Alan Brierley, Richard Price and Charles Prior, who in 1975 set up Brierley Price Prior to train accountancy students.[2]

BPP was first granted degree-awarding powers in 2007,[3][4] becoming the first private-sector company to be given that power in the UK. That year, BPP Law School began offering LLM degrees in legal practice, followed by an LLM in commercial law in 2008. It began offering undergraduate law degrees in 2009[3] when it set up its Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) programme.[5]

On July 30, 2009, American private education company Apollo Global acquired BPP in a deal worth approximately $607 million,[6] and BPP became an Apollo Inc. subsidiary.[7]

Renaming as BPP University (2013-2016)

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On August 8, 2013, the school was granted the title of university and rebranded BPP University, becoming the second for-profit college in the UK to receive the title.[8] The granting of university status was criticized by the University and College Union,[7] which objected to for-profit companies becoming universities.[8] Earlier that year, the union had urged UK Business Secretary Vince Cable to suspend BPP's application for university title pending an investigation into its relationship with its parent companies, saying "the interests of BPP students and the international credibility of the UK university title" were at risk.[9]

In November 2013, BPP was awarded the Education Investor magazine's "Higher/Professional Education Provider of the Year 2013" title.[10]

Development and new ownership (2016-2020)

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After launching a degree programme in dental and oral sciences in 2016, BPP University shut the programme down in 2017 after it failed to meet General Dental Council standards. This left new students unable to start and existing undergraduate students facing an uncertain future.[11]

In 2016 CIS London & Partners partnered with BPP University to offer its MBA (Legal Services) programme in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).[12]

Apollo Education Group purchased BPP University in 2017.[13]

The law school's undergraduate Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) programme was suspended in May 2018 pending a review of the law school's entire programme portfolio. Enrollment in the LL.B. programme had dropped from 665 in 2014 to 105 students in 2017.[5] As a result of the LL.B. suspension, in July 2018, several staff were fired from the Waterloo campus.[14]

In 2018, BPP University had around 15,000 students. It was part of the global BPP Professional Education Group, and a subsidiary of AP VIII Queso Holdings.[15]

In November 2018, BPP's apprenticeship provision was given an 'Insufficient' rating by Ofsted,[15] and in February 2019, the Department for Education banned BPP from recruiting certain new apprentices, citing ‘insufficient progress’ among the students.[16]

In April 2019, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) launched an investigation after a seating plan error resulted in a number of Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) students at BPP University sitting an exam in what some students likened to a “canteen”.[17]

In May 2019, The Lawyer reported that BPP University in London was the most expensive Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) course provider in the country for students in 2019–20, with fees nearly £3,000 higher than the national average.[18]

In July 2019, the university's law school had to issue an apology after several students on its Legal Practice Course (LPC) received their advocacy assessment materials 48 hours later than promised, with their face-to-face assessments due the following weekend.[19]

It was reported in June 2019 that Apollo Education Group was looking to sell the university.[13] In December 2019, BPP Law School was taken off the market.[20]

In December 2019, BPP University Law School was partnered and appointed as the provider of training for Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) to the City Consortium.[21]

Unfair faculty dismissal and Wikipedia (2020)

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From June to July 2020, it was reported that former employee Employment Law lecturer[22][better source needed] Elizabeth Aylott has successfully brought a constructive unfair dismissal claim after BPP University failed to reduce her workload despite her mental health struggles. Her concerns, later diagnosed as Autism Spectrum Disorder, were repeatedly raised as issues in reference to her workload, including a period of working over 55 hours per week and having to cancel annual leave in order to meet work demands.[23]

The employment tribunal found that Aylott had been unfairly dismissed on the basis that BPP University's conduct had undermined trust and confidence. It was also held that an occupational health referral for Aylott was not arranged in a timely manner, and there had been a rush to secure her departure from the university as a result of stigma arising from her mental health.[24]

The tribunal's judgment was that BPP University did unfairly dismiss Aylott and did treat her "unfavourably" in regard to her disability pursuant to the Equality Act 2010 (EqA). However, under the EqA, the tribunal also dismissed claims of direct disability discrimination, harassment relating to her disability, indirect disability discrimination, and failure to make reasonable adjustments.[25]

In December 2020, Legal Cheek reported that Wikipedia accounts linked to BPP Law School's PR company had been accused of "disruptive editing" in regards to the case.[26][better source needed]

COVID-19 pandemic (2020)

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On March 20, 2020, it was reported that one student felt the university had not clearly communicated information to students after a student at its Waterloo campus tested positive for Coronavirus.[27]

Also during August 2020, a Leeds campus BPTC student told journalists that she'd been forced to urinate in a bucket due to the school's requirement that students taking the bar exam remotely not leave their seats and maintain eye contact with the screen, or fail the test.[28][29][30][31]

On October 2, 2020, BPP Law School students expressed their frustration at exams being scheduled during winter vacation, saying they'd be prevented from participating in the winter vacation schemes run by law firms, which traditionally acts a gateway to a training contract for students. In response to the complaints, a BPP spokesperson said the timing was "unfortunate," but that students would still "have the opportunity to attend a 2021 [vacation] scheme.”[32]

In July 2020, BPP was criticized by Legal Practice Course students for not delivering physical copies of study materials during the pandemic.[33]

In an open letter[34] to BPP's vice chancellor in July 2020, students on the Legal Practice Course revealed that the law school's class sizes had more than quadrupled in the wake of COVID-19, with 15-person classes growing to 70 students, and that the university's pandemic and lockdown response was causing anxiety and downgrading education quality.[35]

On July 22, 2020, The Lawyer reported that many BPP law students students were locked out of exams due to IT failures, and that there were demands for partial fee refunds due to the lack of access to BPP facilities.[36]

On August 12, 2020, the Junior Lawyers Division of the Law Society of England and Wales, which represents LPC students across England and Wales, questioned BPP University Law School's decision to charge students registered at its London campuses higher fees than regional counterparts, despite the switch to online education. It urged BPP to open communication with them and listen to student concerns.[37]

On November 23, 2020, BPP law school students stated they would report the law school to the Competition and Markets Authority after the institution refused for a second time to refund tuition fees for alleged lockdown failures.[38]

Recent developments (2020-2025)

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BPP University was granted indefinite degree-awarding powers (DAPs) by the Office for Students in 2020.[4]

In 2020, BPP and Grant Thornton LLP launched a coaching professional apprenticeship and in March 2021,[39] launched two data apprenticeship programmes (Digital Accountant/ Internal Training) for Grant Thornton and Mazars.[40]

In May 2020, BPP was accused of withholding January exam results from students whose fees were overdue,[41] with over 700 BPP students said to have been affected.[42]

In August 2020, a formal complaint was submitted by BPP law students alleging favoritism at BPP law school.[43] The complaint alleged that during the COVID-19 pandemic, BPP law school did not send hard copies of study materials to candidates without a training contract lined up at a City Consortium law firm.[44] The complaint noted that BPP was a training provider for the City Consortium, and alleged a conflict of interest.[43] BPP denied the claims of favoritism.[44]

On December 15, 2020, the student presidents of the four Inns of CourtGray's Inn, Lincoln's Inn, Inner Temple and Middle Temple – wrote a joint letter to BPP University Law School about what they described as “systemic deficiencies” with the quality of teaching on BPP's Bar Professional Training Course and Graduate Diploma in Law programmes.[45][46]

In March 2021, BPP was acquired by private equity house TDR Capital from Apollo Global.[47]

BPP launched a small talk initiative to its law students in chitchat and networking in 2021.[48] Previously BPP started wellbeing initiative to teach students how to meditate and provided "specially commissioned audio meditations" to them.[49]

In 2021, BPP launched pro bono clinic to help provide welfare rights advice.[50]

In May 2021, official data from education watchdog Office for Students found the university to be the lowest ranked institution in the country for student employability. Reporting on the findings, The Daily Telegraph stated, "Over a year after graduating, 69% of students from BPP University - which specialises in law and accountancy courses - have not managed to secure graduate employment or further study."[51]

A reverse mentoring scheme was launched by BPP University Law School in January 2022, where law students reviewed law firms on diversity and inclusion.[52]

In 2022, BPP Law School partnered with the O Shaped Lawyer for the SQE preparation courses.[53]

Locations

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The head office is at BPP House, Aldine Place, 142-144 Uxbridge Road, London, W12 8AA.[54]

It has had study centres in Abingdon, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds, Liverpool, London and Manchester. The business school is in the City of London and the law school in Holborn.[55] In 2018 the law school closed its Liverpool campus, telling students to continue their studies at the Manchester campus instead.[56]

Organisation and administration

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The company has been owned by TDR Capital since 2021.[47]

Notable alumni

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Where do HE students study?". Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  2. ^ "BPP HOLDINGS PLC: BOARD CHANGES". Investegate. 7 January 2002.
  3. ^ a b Hoult, Philip (28 September 2007). "BPP To Offer Degrees". Law Society Gazette.
  4. ^ a b "The Power to Award Degrees etc. (BPP University Limited) Order of Council 2013 (Amendment) Order 2020". Office for Students. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  5. ^ a b King, Katie (29 May 2018). "BPP suspends law degree in face of solicitor super-exam". Legal Cheek. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  6. ^ "Apollo Global Completes Acquisition of UK-Based BPP Holdings PLC". Vanta Education. 30 July 2009.
  7. ^ a b "For-profit university prompts fears after US scandals". The University and College Union. 8 August 2013.
  8. ^ a b Sellgren, Katherine (8 August 2013). "For-profit college gains full university status". BBC News.
  9. ^ Morgan, John (14 March 2013). "Phoenix feels heat over probation threat". Times Higher Education.
  10. ^ "BPP University Wins Higher/Professional Education Provider of the Year 2013". All About LLMs. 29 November 2013.
  11. ^ Morgan, John (5 October 2017). "BPP shuts dental course as regulator raises safety concerns". Times Higher Education.
  12. ^ "BPP University teams up with CIS London & Partners to offer innovative MBA (Legal Services) programme". Lawyer Monthly. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  13. ^ a b Morgan, John (19 June 2019). "BPP sale set to test appetite for for-profit investment". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 19 June 2019
  14. ^ Connelly, Thomas (10 July 2018). "BPP cuts London staff headcount following LLB suspension". Legal Cheek. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  15. ^ a b https://feweek.co.uk/2018/11/01/ofsted-slams-private-sector-giant-bpp-for-being-unaware-of-the-slow-progress-apprentices-make/ ["Ofsted slams private sector giant BPP for being unaware of the slow progress apprentices make"] FE Week. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  16. ^ https://feweek.co.uk/2019/02/15/dfe-confirms-ban-on-recruitment-of-apprentices-at-bpp-university-months-after-ofsted-warning/ "DFE confirms ban on recruitment of apprentices at BPP University after months of warning"]. FE Week. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  17. ^ Connelly, Thomas (24 April 2019). "BSB investigate after BPP 'error' left some BPTC students sitting ethics exam in 'canteen'". Legal Cheek.
  18. ^ Simmons, Richard (9 May 2019). "Average BPTC fee passes £16,000 as all but three law schools raise prices for 2019/20". The Lawyer.
  19. ^ Connelly, Thomas (30 July 2019). "BPP Law School apologises after 'technical fault' sees LPC students receive advocacy exam materials 48 hours late". Legal Cheek.
  20. ^ Simmons, Richard The Lawyer, 16 December 2019) "BPP off the market for now as no buyers found". Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  21. ^ "City law firm 'consortium' appoints BPP as SQE prep-course provider". 3 December 2019.
  22. ^ McKinney, CJ (25 June 2020). "Former BPP employment successfully sues for unfair dismissal". Legal Cheek, Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  23. ^ Webber, Ashleigh (30 June 2020). "Lecturer called ‘mad as a box of frogs’ wins constructive dismissal claim". Personnel Today, Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  24. ^ Oliver, Joanne (3 July 2020). "Failure to Address Workload Concerns May Amount to Breach of Contract and Discrimination Claims". Lexology, Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  25. ^ "Mrs E Aylott v BPP University Ltd: 2201378/2019 and 2201817/2019 - Judgment with Reasons" (PDF). HM Courts & Tribunals Service. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  26. ^ "BPP accused of 'disruptive editing' by Wikipedia". 2 December 2020., Legal Cheek[better source needed]
  27. ^ Dennison, James (20 March 2020). "EXCLUSIVE BPP student tests positive for COVID-19". RollOnFriday.
  28. ^ Johnson, Kristian (13 August 2020). "Leeds law student forced to 'squat down' and urinate in bucket during online exams". Leeds Live.
  29. ^ "Study in Uk". LeapScaholar. 10 March 2023.
  30. ^ Sheridan, Daniel (13 August 2020). "Aspiring Leeds University Law School barrister claims she was forced to urinate in kitchen bucket during exam". Yorkshire Evening Post.
  31. ^ "Online law students 'had to use bucket toilet' in exams". BBC News. 13 August 2020.
  32. ^ Hussain, Aishah. "BPP students' frustration over exam clash with winter vac scheme dates". Legal Cheek. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  33. ^ Hussain, Aishah (16 July 2020). "BPP students aren't happy about having to do without hard copy course materials". Legal Cheek. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  34. ^ "Google News". Google News. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  35. ^ Slingo, Jemma. "LPC students demand refund after 'severe' lockdown failures". Law Society Gazette. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  36. ^ Simmons, Richard (22 July 2020). "Disgruntled students voice anger over BPP's lockdown actions". The Lawyer. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  37. ^ Connelly, Thomas (17 August 2020). "JLD writes to BPP over LPC lockdown complaints". Legal Cheek. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  38. ^ Slingo, Jemma. "Students raise stakes after law school refuses lockdown refunds". Law Society Gazette. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  39. ^ Sweet, Pat; Reporter; Sep 2020, Accountancy Daily4. "Grant Thornton and BPP launch business mentoring apprenticeship". www.accountancydaily.co. Retrieved 11 March 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  40. ^ "Grant Thornton and BPP launch new Data Apprenticeships". Grant Thornton UK LLP. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  41. ^ Dennison, James (1 May 2020). "BPP accused of withholding exam results from indebted students". RollOnFriday.
  42. ^ Hamilton, Jamie (22 May 2020). "BPP takes 'case-by-case' approach after withholding exam results from 700 students". RollOnFriday.
  43. ^ a b "City law firm 'consortium' appoints BPP as SQE prep-course provider". 3 December 2019.
  44. ^ a b Slingo, Jemma. "Students lodge formal complaint against BPP alleging City favouritism". Law Society Gazette. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  45. ^ Hussain, Aishah (18 December 2020). "Inns of Court student presidents write to BPP over teaching concerns". Legal Cheek. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  46. ^ "A Joint Letter from the Students' Associations of the Inns of Court". Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  47. ^ a b Moloney, Rachel (24 March 2021). "BPP sold to private equity house TDR Capital". The Lawyer | Legal insight, benchmarking data and jobs. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  48. ^ "Chitchat 101: BPP University Law School offers lessons in small talk". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  49. ^ "'Admitting to stress is not weak' says Clifford Chance partner as BPP converts classrooms into meditation studios". www.rollonfriday.com. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  50. ^ "BPP looks to secure welfare benefits for society's 'most vulnerable' with new student-staffed pro bono clinic". Legal Cheek. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  51. ^ Turner, Camilla (19 May 2021). "Revealed: the universities where most students fail to land a graduate job after their degree". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  52. ^ "BPP students to reverse mentor law firms on diversity and inclusion". Legal Cheek. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  53. ^ "BPP students given 'human and business skills' boost with O Shaped Lawyer collab". Legal Cheek. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  54. ^ https://www.ucas.com/explore/unis/95d4242b/bpp-university?studyYear=current UCAS website
  55. ^ https://www.studyin-uk.com/profiles/university/bpp-university/ Study in UK web resource
  56. ^ Walters, Max (28 March 2018). "BPP to shut Liverpool base". The Law Society Gazette. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  57. ^ "Kenny Imafidon #changingthenarrative". The Amos Bursary. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
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51°30′18″N 0°13′23″W / 51.50500°N 0.22306°W / 51.50500; -0.22306