School Policies

 

Admission
Criteria

Timetable
& Calendar

Calendar

School
Policies

Policies

Learner
Protection

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Emergency
Contact

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Complaints & Grievances

Admission Criteria: ILEP Programme Admission Requirements

Students should be from a non-EU country, age 18 + with at least a basic knowledge of English (A1 level). Students are required to state examination registration choice at time of booking. Students are required to have private health insurance for the duration of the programme.

Agency Guidance

An expert agent has the experience to help you plan and book every detail of your language travel abroad.

Most agencies will be able to give you information and support online and over the phone and some agents will welcome you into their office for a face-to-face meeting where you can discuss all things about your language holiday abroad.

Please see a List of Agencies here that have helped students book at course at Cork English Academy.

End-of-programme Exam

Students are obliged to take an exam and the obligation of the school is to enter the student for the exam

At the beginning of the 25 week tuition programme, students will be registered for their end of programme external exam by Cork English Academy. The details of the time and date of the exam will be sent to each student by email one month in advance of the exam date. It is the responsibility of the student to present themselves for the exam on the appointed date and time. The results of the exam must be forwarded to Cork English Academy by the student no more than two weeks after they are issued to the student. Cork English Academy will retain a record of the grade/score received in the students file.

The following table shows details of the programmes offered by Cork English Academy, the end of course exam and the entry level required:

Programme Title Award Hours Entry Level Exit Level
General English GE15 (Programme 10) TIE A2+ 15 hours CEFRL A1 CEFRL A2
General English GE15 (Programme 11) TIE B1 15 hours CEFRL A2 CEFRL B1
General English GE15 (Programme 12) TIE B2 15 hours CEFRL B1 CEFRL B2
General English GE15 (Programme 13) TIE C1 15 hours CEFRL B2 CEFRL C1
General English GE15 (Programme 17) TIE C2 15 hours CEFRL C1+ CEFRL C2
General English GE15 plus IELTS (Academic 5.0) Preparation (Programme 14) IELTS 15 hours CEFRL A2 CEFRL B1
GEIELTS15 (General English 15 Plus IELTS Academic Preparation) (Programme 23) IELTS 15 hours CEFRL A2+ CEFRL B1+
General English GE15 plus IELTS (Academic 6.5) Preparation (Programme 15) IELTS 15 hours CEFRL B1 CEFRL B2
General English GE15 plus IELTS (Academic 7.5) Preparation (Programme 16) IELTS 15 hours CEFRL B2 CEFRL C1

Medical Insurance

  • Cork English Academy offers Medical Insurance to students.
  • This MediCover is provided by Arachas and underwritten by Chubb Insurance.
  • This insurance cover provides financial protection and medical assistance during your Work and Study/Academic Year Course.
  • It offers no protection in your home country.
Pre-requirements for Cover to apply:

The Insured Person must not be currently under treatment, taking medication, or receiving follow up consultation for any of the following conditions:

1. cancer;
2. any heart / circulatory-related condition (including hypertension, angina, stroke etc); or
3. any chronic lung / breathing-related condition (excluding asthma suffered in isolation and controlled by the use of one or two inhalers); or
4. a clinically diagnosed psychiatric disorder, anxiety or depression;

The Insured Person must not be:
1. receiving or waiting for medical treatment at a hospital or nursing home;
2. waiting for investigation or referral, or the results of any investigation, medical treatment or surgical procedure, for any condition, whether diagnosed or undiagnosed.
3. choosing not to take prescribed medication, or the correct dose of prescribed medicine.
4. travelling against the advice of a medically qualified doctor;
5. travelling to obtain medical, dental or cosmetic treatment;
6. travelling with a terminal condition;

This Policy will not cover claims directly or indirectly arising from, relating to or in any way connected with COVID-19 or any mutation or variation of COVID-19. We will not therefore cover claims relating to any inability to travel, any decision not to travel or any changes to travel plans, nor any medical or health related loss or expense incurred, as a result of COVID-19 or any mutation or variation of COVID-19.

It is the Insured’s and the Insured Person’s responsibility to accept honestly and with reasonable care all questions posed by the Insurer. Failure to do so may (i) affect the Policy terms and/or claims under the Policy; and/or (ii) entitle the Insurer to terminate the Policy or treat the Policy as if it never existed.

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Timetable & Calendar

School Closure Dates

As well as at weekends the school will be closed on the following public holiday dates:

2023

6th February, March 17, 10 April, 01 May, 05 June, 07 August, 30 October. The school will also be closed for the Christmas period from 23 December 2023 to 07 January 2024.

Last day of class will be Friday 22 December 2023 and the first day back in 2024 will be Monday  08 January 2024.

2024

5th February, March 18, 01 April, 06 May, 03 June, 05 August, 28 October. The school will also be closed for the Christmas period from 21 December 2024 to 05 January 2025.

Last day of class will be Friday 20 December 2024 and the first day back in 2025 will be Monday 06 January 2025.

2025

3rd February, March 17, 21 April, 05 May, 02 June, 04 August, 27 October. Additionally, the Christmas period closure dates will be from 22 December 2025 to 04 January 2026.

Last day of class will be Friday 21 December 2025 and the first day back in 2025 will be Monday 05 January 2026.

Programme Calendar

Programmes start on any Monday except where the school is closed due to School and Public Holidays. In the case of public holiday Monday closures programmes will start on the following Tuesday.

Timetable 15 hour per week morning course: 09.00 – 12:15 with 15 minute break Timetable 15 hour per week afternoon course: 13.15 – 16:30  with 15 minute break

Students must decide on a course schedule at time of booking/course purchase. Students cannot change their course schedule during their course.

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School Policies

Punctuality and Attendance Policy

It is important that students attend all of their scheduled classes. For students who are attending Cork English Academy on a course of 25 weeks, from January 20th 2016 on the ILEP , an attendance rate of 85% is required. A register is taken before and after the break each day and attendance is calculated on the basis of both registers. Students who arrive more than 10 minutes late for class or leave more than 10 minutes early from class in either period will be marked absent for that period.

Absenteeism and Expulsion Policy

If a student misses more than one class a week, they must report to the Director of Studies to explain their absence before they are allowed to re-enter their class. Students who are absent for five consecutive days without prior arrangement or without having provided a medical certificate to explain their absence will be contacted by email to arrange to meet with the Director of Studies to discuss why they have not attended their course. The student will be reminded of their obligations under the terms of their visa to attend a minimum of 85% of their course. The student will receive a verbal warning from the Director of Studies when projected attendance reaches 95%. The student will be reminded of their obligations under the terms of their visa to attend a minimum of 85% of their course. A First Letter of Warning is issued by email when the student’s projected attendance percentage reaches 92%.  The student will be asked to attend a meeting with the Director of Studies to discuss the consequences for their status of non-attendance, including being reported to GNIB and to again explain their obligations under the terms of their visa to attend at least 85% of their course. A Second Letter of Warning will be issued by email when the student’s projected attendance reaches 88%. The student will be asked to attend a meeting with the School Director to where they will be advised that they are at serious risk of being reported to GNIB and that they need to attend the remainder of their course in full. Once the student has reached the point in their course where it is impossible for them to attain 85% attendance, they will receive an expulsion letter from Cork English Academy informing them that they are being immediately removed from the school register and that the GNIB are being notified. The GNIB will then be notified. Cork English Academy will log all calls and emails/letters to the student along with their attendance record should they wish to appeal the decision to expel them from the school.

Sick Leave

All sick leave of more than two days must be accompanied by a Doctor’s certificate. On the 1st day of illness where a student can not attend school, the student is required to notify the school of illness before scheduled class time or as soon as possible. Students can do this by emailing [email protected] or ringing the school phone on  +353 21 427 6012. Students are required to report the general nature of the illness and expected return to school date. On the 3rd day of illness where a student can not attend school the student must forward a Doctor’s Certificate to the school.

Holidays and Breaks

Students studying on courses of 25 weeks or longer on courses on the ILEP may, by prior agreement with the school, take holidays of up to a maximum of 2 weeks (10 working days plus two weekends) during their course. The following terms and procedures apply:

  • Holidays should be prearranged at the time of booking.
  • All holidays must be taken over the duration of a full week, that is, starting on a Monday and finishing on a Friday.
  • When the student returns from holiday they will re-take a placement test (Online Placement test plus oral assessment ) and will be placed in a class at the appropriate level.
  • Holiday periods cannot at any point exceed 1/3 of the total weeks elapsed and front loading of holidays will not be permitted.

Implementation and Monitoring of Student Holidays

Step 1 The student requests a Holiday Request Form from reception. The student then completes and returns the Holiday Request Form to reception.

Step 2 The Director of Studies reviews the request and arranges an appointment with the student to discuss the procedure to be followed when taking holidays and returning to class after holidays. The student is advised that, on returning from holiday, they will be required to retake the Online Placement Test and have an oral assessment to confirm their re-start level. An appointment time is set for the re-test to take place, on the first morning after the holiday, before class begins.

Step 3 The Director of Studies informs the relevant Class Teachers of the holiday break and records the details on the student’s file and in the school management system.

Step 4 The student will be emailed a holiday request confirmation.

Step 5 Students are not permitted to take holidays of longer than two weeks and are advised of this when booking a course. Students who are absent without prior agreement with the school (including taking longer holidays than the agreed 10 working days allowed) will be marked absent and the procedures described in the Attendance Policy will apply.

Step 6 On their return from holiday the student must arrive at the school at the agreed appointment time to sit the re-test and take the oral assessment. The Director of Studies will then determine which group the student will join to recommence their course.

Payment

Under new legislation in Ireland all visa requiring students advance funds will be held in a segregated account (Escrow) until your visa is approved . Payments must be made through PaytoStudy: https://corkenglishacademy.paytostudy.com. Once your visa is approved you must send a copy to Pay To Study. If a visa is refused, a refund, minus any fees (see below), will be made via Pay to Study.

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Student Refund Policy

  • Notice of cancellation must be provided in writing and applies from the date it is received by Cork English Academy.
  • For visa requiring applicants the cancellation policy is as follows:
  • All visa requiring student bookings are subject to a non refundable deposit of €200 and school registration fee of €65.
  • If you cancel your course and/or accommodation before arrival due to visa refusal or you are refused entry to Ireland, we shall refund your fees in full subject to a €200 cancellation charge and the registration fee charge of €65.
  • You must apply for a refund within six months of refusal date. You will be required to submit the original letter of refusal to us for us to give you the refund.
  • If a course and/or accommodation booking is cancelled for reasons other than visa refusal less than 28 days and more than 14 days before arrival date full fees are returned subject to a €200 cancellation charge and the registration fee charge of €65.
  • If you cancel your course and/or accommodation later than 14 days before the arrival date for reasons other than visa refusal we will refund 90% of your fees subject to a €200 cancellation charge and the registration fee charge of €65
  • If you cancel your course and/or accommodation after arrival, leave it early or miss any lessons, including in case of sickness, refund is not usually given but a credit may be considered at the discretion of the Academy.
  • For non visa requiring applicants the cancellation policy is as follows:
    • If a course and/or accommodation booking is cancelled 28 days before student arrival a full refund is returned.
    • If a course and/or accommodation booking is cancelled less than 28 days and more than 14 days before arrival date full fees are returned subject to a €200 cancellation charge and the registration fee charge of €65.
    • If you cancel your course and/or accommodation later than 14 days before the arrival date we will refund 90% of your fees subject to a €200 cancellation charge and the registration fee charge of €65.
    • If you cancel your course and/or accommodation after arrival, leave it early or miss any lessons, including in case of sickness, refund is not usually given but a credit may be considered at the discretion of the Academy.
  • The school will process the refund within 15 working days of receiving written cancellation notice.The Managing Director, Catherine O’Connor ([email protected]) is responsible for operating the refund system.

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Learner Protection / PEL

Learner Protection is provided by Arachas and underwritten by Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC. Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC trading as Aviva, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland

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Emergency Contact

Cork English Academy is open from 08.30 to 17.30 from Monday to Friday. Staff are available at reception at all times to assist in emergency matters. Students may contact the school during the above hours by visiting in person, or calling 00 353 21 427 6012. Outside of these hours, an emergency telephone number is available and is answered by a senior member of staff at all times, during the evenings/nights and at weekends and public holidays. The emergency contact number is 00 353 86 7900 860. This number is also contactable by WhatsApp for students who do not have telephone accounts in Ireland but can access WiFi.

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Complaints & Grievances

Cork English Academy is committed to delivering an excellent service to all of its stakeholders. In order to ensure continued quality Cork English Academy strives to recognise the value of both positive and negative customer feedback. In the event that services are deemed unsatisfactory and a student wishes to make a complaint, the following complaints procedure is to be followed: A complaint is defined as a student formally expressing that they are dissatisfied with or unhappy about any part of their programme at Cork English Academy.

Step 1 Firstly, informally address the issue with the relevant individual(s) and attempt to resolve the situation. Should this prove unsuccessful, progress the next step.

Step 2 Complainant requests and fills out a Complaints Form, ensuring to provide full details of the nature of the complaint. The complaints form is returned to the Managing Director Catherine O’ Connor in person or by email at [email protected], along with any relevant documents, who takes the written complaint to the directors of the organization. The complaint is dealt with confidentially. The complaint is then reviewed by the directors and a response is made in writing within seven working days. Where appropriate the board will provide a full explanation of any relevant errors and details of any remedial action taken.

Step 3 After step two has been completed, Cork English Academy will consider the matter resolved. If the complainant remains dissatisfied Cork English Academy will advise the complainant to bring the matter to the attention of The Department of Education and Science. Contact details for relevant administrative staff in the department will be provided.

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