theForum » Colleges, Universities and other education » Applying to colleges and universities » Experience of the OU and unspent conviction?

Experience of the OU and unspent conviction?

Mark15788 — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 10:21:04 GMT

Has anyone an experience of applying for the OU and having a unspent conviction for a SO? It becomes spent in May 2023 so should I wait?

RE: Experience of the OU and unspent conviction?

Mark15788 — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 10:21:04 GMT

Thought I’d pop back and say after the application process with the OU and a risk assessment form my officer completed which I got to see and was very fair, it went to a panel and I was allowed to start my course but with restricted access which basically means that I don’t have access to the forums section of my module website and the OU email system nor can I attend live tutorials (but can access the recordings), everything else I can access. Once end of May is here when everything ends in terms of SHPO etc. I have been told to inform the relevant team at the OU and it will go back to the panel and I should get full access. It’s going really well, I am enjoying my course, tutor knows my circumstances and is great and submitted my first assignment so awaiting the results and feedback.

RE: Experience of the OU and unspent conviction?

Mr W — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 14:02:11 GMT

Sounds like it's going really well on the education and social side, great news, good luck!

RE: Experience of the OU and unspent conviction?

Dean91 — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 23:40:34 GMT

[quote]

[b]Mr W - 2 Dec 22 2:42 PM[/b]

Hi Dean, great to hear of a success story and glad to hear disclosure didn't lead to disappointment. I'm sure it'll be a fascinating course.
Can I ask, what made you choose that course and what are your hopes afterward?

[/quote]

Hi Mr W

So I picked:

BA(hons) History and international relations or BSc(hons) Psychology. I did a CBA table but they were very much so tied. Then I just tossed a coin.

The more I have done it and got involved at Unviersity, and I am doing very well on my course so far(the typical mark I recieve on an assignment is 2:1) and I have been participating in experiments. Afterwards I'd like to do a masters in a similar subject. :)

RE: Experience of the OU and unspent conviction?

Mr W — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 14:42:00 GMT

RE: Experience of the OU and unspent conviction?

Dean91 — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 15:51:04 GMT

[quote]

[b]JASB - 26 Nov 22 1:17 PM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Dean91 - 26 Nov 22 10:46 AM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Mark15788 - 12 Oct 22 3:25 PM[/b]

Open University are still assessing me. However another provider who has not asked about unspent convictions and does not do a dbs check, have made me an offer on their online distance learning degree course. Now I’m worried my officer may object, although I can’t see any impact on my conditions above.

[/quote]

Hi

So if its any help Ido have a suggestion and that's to look at Birkbeck, University of London.

When I applied, and did my disclosure it was based on two things:

- Risk

- Probation conditions.

Birkbeck openly state, they are not interested in your offence directly, but what your conditions of a sentence are, to ensure:
a) you can complete your studies
b)You can still complete your sentence plan.

I gave a statement and my PO and PPU wrote into them as well as far as I am aware.

When I had a conversation with a safeguarding lead at a different uni that I had applied to as well he did say that generally all unis are interested in are really managing your time, if you need supervision etc, and that they had many RSO go through their doors and get full degrees etc.

I started with OU, but I found distance learning hard. I am now undertaking my BSc(Hons) Psychology at Birkbeck -- In person! Without any issue :)

[/quote]

Many thanks for the info and will look at the subjects covered here.

[/quote]

No problems, this is just my experience. I found the process helpful. But from two different unis: One of them I felt very personal, and the other was very "corporate".

I would say when choosing degrees avoid those that have a DBS- as this is an enhanced check(only applicable on a small amount of courses. Usually obvious in title), and those that have professional registration such as NMC, HCPC etc partially for RSOs. Not sure with other convictions.

I have found them very helpful in all honesty. Nobody knows at uni about my conviction - Im not subject to the google effect anyway so this is a major factor for me.

:)

RE: Experience of the OU and unspent conviction?

JASB — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 13:17:41 GMT

[quote]

[b]Dean91 - 26 Nov 22 10:46 AM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Mark15788 - 12 Oct 22 3:25 PM[/b]

[/quote]

Many thanks for the info and will look at the subjects covered here.

RE: Experience of the OU and unspent conviction?

Dean91 — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 10:46:10 GMT

[quote]

[b]Mark15788 - 12 Oct 22 3:25 PM[/b]

[/quote]

RE: Experience of the OU and unspent conviction?

Mark15788 — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 15:25:32 GMT

RE: Experience of the OU and unspent conviction?

Mark15788 — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 09:27:19 GMT

It’s all down to my officer and a risk assessment now. I’m not even sure if they have read what I sent. All they have said is they want to speak to my officer to ensure no restrictions prevent me from studying and I don’t breach a restriction accidentally. Then they will do a risk assessment too. Only restrictions I have are (summary) - 1. No contact/communication with males under 16. 2. No devices, unless reported and has the capability to retain history. 3. Allow inspection of devices. 4. No bypassing the functioning of the device. 5. No cloud access unless reported of the creation of account. 6. Allow monitoring software to be installed if wanted. (4.5 years into a 5 year order and they haven’t done this).

RE: Experience of the OU and unspent conviction?

Mark15788 — Sat, 01 Oct 2022 20:42:54 GMT

Thanks. So do you think the bit where it says unavoidable in the day to day life part of the order, can’t remember exact wording, would mean studying would come under this? I will complete the form they have sent me but they don’t seem to ask for further details so I’m going to put in a supporting document too. I’ve decided on a BA (Hons) in Criminology. I’ve been more fascinated since I have been through the criminal justice system.

RE: Experience of the OU and unspent conviction?

khafka — Sat, 01 Oct 2022 14:12:11 GMT

I'd double check your order. While the "no contact under 16" is almost certainly a thing I suspect there will likely be a caveat to it along the lines of "No contact under 16 unless unavoidable in daily life" or words to that effect.

The fact your application appears to be progressing and didn't seem to just come to a grinding halt when you made your declaration is a promising start for you.

I'd also be cautious about your PPU potentially overstepping their bounds. Someone else on here has been seemingly having issues recently and we've discussed it a bit more in depth in this thread here: https://forum.unlock.org.uk/Topic33088.aspx maybe there's something relevant there to help you.

I wish you the best of luck either way! I'm looking at the possibility of going back properly to University next year (my order finishes in Feb 2023) but I'm totally lost as to what to study.

RE: Experience of the OU and unspent conviction?

Mark15788 — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 21:09:24 GMT

I’m not so sure this will go well. I want to do a full degree with them part time over six years. The conditions of registration document states they have under 18s sometimes on courses and also in exceptional circumstances under 16s. Although, I can’t imagine a under 16 been allowed to participate in a degree course if they are still at school. 16+ would be fine as my order says no communication with males under 16. I went ahead and registered and answered the questions truthfully. Received a declaration form today. Asks the usual details plus specifically asks if I have a SHPO or on SOR. Which I will need to select yes. Also asks if I am monitored by probation or the police so I’ll need to select police and give details. I did read further into their policies though and it states there would only be deemed to be an issue if an order in place stopped me from engaging with the course. If they know there is going to be no under 16 participating in a degree course in the chosen subject which would seem strange if there was, I would be breaking no conditions of my order. Plus my selected start date would be Feb and my order is finished in May so here’s hoping they can see it would all become spent a few months in anyway.

RE: Experience of the OU and unspent conviction?

khafka — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 09:57:06 GMT

The Open University?

I'm still not classed as spent but I did a short programming course via the OU while I was still in my 'punishment' section of my order (unpaid hours) and it wasn't an issue in the slightest. Whether that was because it was a study at home and it was during COVID I'm unsure but my personal experience was fine, had no issues.