Safeguarding

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Safeguarding in BAES

We take our duty to safeguard learners and protect their welfare seriously. If you have a concern about abuse it can be raised with a member of our safeguarding team.

We will support you and find and contact agencies who can provide further help if needed. You might, for example, be concerned about

• Physical abuse, including domestic violence
• Emotional abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Financial abuse
• Radicalisation or extremism​​

Are you worried about your safety?

If you wish to discuss any concerns with a Safeguarding Officer please call 0121 675 2805. If you feel you are in immediate danger please call 999.

You may also ask to use centre phones to contact support agencies yourself if you would rather not use your own phone.

If you have a concern and do not wish to contact the safeguarding team the link below will take you to a list of some other organisations who may be able to help you.

External Support Agencies

Contact Us

How can we help?

General enquiries

If you would like to find out more about our courses and information or about any additional support that may be available to help you while you are studying please contact our Information Line on 0121 303 4318 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. If they are not able to help you there and then they will put you in contact with the relevant member of staff.

Usual opening times: Monday to Thursday 09:00 - 17:00, Friday 09:00 - 16:00

We welcome your feedback

Whether it's a compliment, complaint or a general comment we value your opinions. As an organisation we are committed to providing the best service we can and we believe that listening to our learners is the best way to find out how well we are doing and also what we could be doing better. There are many ways to contact us. Please choose the one that is most convenient for you.

Tel: 0121 303 4318 | Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Post: BAES, Aston Learning Centre, 99 Whitehead Rd, Aston, Birmingham, B6 6EJ

Alternatively you may wish to use our Your Views process. More details and an online form is available here

How to join a course

How to join one of our courses

We want to make sure that your learning experience is the best it can possibly be and that we are able to help you achieve your long-term goals and aspirations.

For the course information please check our fees, times and venue location in our course brochure. However please note course details may need to change since publication. Up-to-date information on when, where and how your course will delivered and how to access your course on our Virtual Learning Environment will be confirmed with you during the assessment and enrolment process.

1. Contact the Admissions Team

The quickest and easiest way to get in touch with our admissions team is to fill in the Course Enquiry Form. 

Enquiry Form

If you prefer to ring us, please call 0121 303 4318 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Whichever method you choose one of the admissions team will get back to you as soon as we can to arrange and book an initial assessment or if appropriate to enrol you directly onto the course of your choice.

2. Ask any questions you may have about the course

Find out more about the course content and if you will be able to attend. What sort of things will you be learning? Where, when and how often does the class take place? How much will it cost?

3. Check you meet the course entry requirements

Is it the right level course for you? If you want to join a qualification course you will need to complete an initial assessment to check that your maths, English, or subject knowledge are at the right level for you to succeed.

If no initial assessment is needed you can enrol straightaway.

Allocation of places: There is high demand for places on our courses. Please be aware that when we offer places, we will take into account your previous record of attendance and completion and whether you signed up for courses and did not attend.

4. If required, book an initial assessment

We will find and book you onto an initial assessment at a time and venue that is most convenient for you. You will be advised on how long the assessment will take and anything else that you will be expected to do on the day.

5. Complete an initial assessment

If you have any additional needs or difficulties please inform the assessor before you start your assessment so we can provide any support you may need. After you have finished the assessment we will discuss your results with you and help you to find a suitable course.

6. Get ready to start your new course

A few weeks before your course starts we will email you more details about your course, supply your BAES learner account ID, and a reminder of when and where you course starts. A few days before your course begins we will send you a text message to welcome you to your course.

Fees & Costs

Information about our course fees

How much will it cost?

Free courses

Provided you meet residency requirements, certain courses are FREE. These include;

• English and maths functional skills.
• English and maths GCSE courses are free if you have not previously achieved a grade A - C or 4 - 9 at GCSE
• Computer Skills - Beginners to Level 1 qualifications are free if you have not previously achieved an IT qualification at that level or above

Discount fee

These course fees are available if you are:

• in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)
• in receipt of Employment Support Allowance Work Related Activity Group (ESA/WRAG)
• in receipt of an income based benefit* and are actively seeking work or better employment
• employed and earning less than £9.90 per hour (you will need to provide evidence of this)
• are unemployed

Please ask a member of staff for further advice

*Universal Credit, Job Seekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance (WRAG/HRAG), Income Support, Pension Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Working Tax Credit, Asylum Support.

Full fee

If you are not eligible for a discount fee you will have to pay the full course fee and any exam and assessment fees.

Other important fee information

Exam fees

There is an exam fee for all qualification courses. For some learners the exam entry will be free depending on the course and your personal circumstances. Please ask staff for details.

For Level 3 courses the exam fee is already included in the published course fee.

Advanced Learner Loans for over 19s studying on level 3 courses

If you were aged 19 or over on the 31st August 2022 and you are enrolling onto some of our level 3 courses, then you must pay the full fee or take out a loan depending on the eligibility of the qualification. More information can be found at: www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan

You do not have to pay your loan back until you have started earning over £26,568 per year.

EEA National learners

You must provide proof of your status at enrolment. Provided you meet eligibility criteria, standard fees, concessions and discounts apply.

International learners (non EEA National Learners)

The minimum course fee is £10 per hour. For details on the residency requirements needed to qualify for our funded courses please ask at your local centre.