E-learning students left 'high and dry'

Students using an e-learning website have been left "high and dry" after the company running it went into administration.

Oxbridge Home Learning offered qualifications, including GCSE, Btec and A-level courses, with online tutoring. It ceased trading in September. Administrators said the website would remain live until July 2026, but with no tutoring, marking, or examination services provided.

Amelia, 17 from Banbury, who is mid-way through three A-level courses, said it was "very stressful" for students hoping to apply for university.

In a statement Oxbridge said it was "truly sorry for the disruption and disappointment".

The Oxbridge e-learning website, based at the Mailbox in Birmingham, offered more than 250 courses with specialist tutors and learning advisors.

The website claims to have a 98% pass rate, offering "super convenient" online studying.

It describes the owner, Matt Jones, as a "shining star", who won Male Innovator of the Year at The Technology Supply Chain Awards.

Amelia began using the the online learning portal in September 2024 after she could not find a school offering the three A-level subjects she had hoped to study - music, English Language and religious education.

"The course was great, the tutors were amazing. They were really helpful last year," she said.

However by the summer she noticed things were "not quite right" with emails to tutors going unanswered and Trust Pilot reviews of the service "going downhill".

She had been expecting to take mock exams in December and sit her A-levels in the summer in order to go to university next year.

"I just wanted to complete my a levels, it was going so well. A lot of other people have been let down. It's very annoying."

"I don't know what's going to happen next because I had a whole plan of what was going to happen with university. But obviously universities require A-level grades.

"If I don't have them there's not really much chance of me actually getting into university so I'm quite stressed about that at the moment."

Other users have posted complaints on on the Trust Pilot review site.

One said they had lost more than £7,600 on A-level courses.

Another said she had finished all the units of a travel and tourism diploma.

"I am feeling very angry to have come out of this with nothing," she posted.

Her mother Lesley said the company had "railroaded thousands of people's education".

"They've left a lot of children high and dry. What do our children do?

"You've got thousands of children around the country now without tutors.

"They've paid their course fees, they're not going to get that money back," she added.

She said she would receive her money back through section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act as she had paid by credit card, but would have to look for private tutors to take Amelia through the rest of her courses.

The company said it had "tried everything possible" to find a buyer for the business.

"Although the business as a whole could not be saved, several buyers - including Matt Jones - stepped in to preserve as much as possible, safeguarding jobs and allowing continued support for students, many of whom have since received their certificates.

"We deeply regret the impact this will have on our students and staff, which we are trying our best to mitigate.

"We are also truly sorry for the disruption and disappointment this has caused," it added.

In a statement, administrators Forvis Mazars LLP said the company had ceased trading following "significant cash flow pressures" and 11 members of staff had been made redundant.

It said following efforts to find a buyer, the company's assets had been sold to two seperate purchasers.

"One of these purchasers acquired the website, domain names, and the trading style 'Oxbridge'.

"They have agreed to keep the learning portal accessible to students until July 2026; however, no tutoring, marking, or examination services will be provided.

"Due to the substantial level of debt within Oxbridge Ltd, no repayment to unsecured creditors is currently anticipated," it added.

Ofsted confirmed that Oxbridge Home Learning had not applied to be on the voluntary list of accredited online schools.