‘Education Places to Work’ Terms and Conditions Last Updated: September 2026 These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern participation in the Education Places to Work certification programme ("Programme") operated by Education Personnel Management Limited, company number 02723581 ("EPM"). By registering for the Programme, the Applicant agrees to be bound by these Terms.
1. Programme Overview
1.1 Education Places to Work is an employer certification programme designed to recognise Schools and Multi Academy Trusts that demonstrate positive employee engagement and workplace practices.
1.2 Participating Trusts and/or Schools will be assessed through an employer questionnaire, employee engagement surveys, scoring methodologies and any additional eligibility checks required by Education Places to Work.
1.3 Applicants meeting the required standards are awarded accreditation under the Programme, there are 2 levels – Certified (meeting the required standard) or Leading (exceeding the required standard). Accreditation categories, levels and criteria may be amended from time to time.
1.4 The certification is valid only for the period specified in the award documentation, which unless specified otherwise is 1 year.
2. Eligibility
2.1 The Programme is open to state-funded schools, independent schools and Multi Academy Trusts.
2.2 Applicants must provide accurate and complete information.
2.3 Education Places to Work may reject, suspend or withdraw an application where false information is provided, survey responses are manipulated, or these Terms are breached.
2.4 The employer questionnaire must be completed in full.
2.5 For an application to be fully considered, at least 60% of eligible employees must complete the employee survey.
2.6 Education Places to Work may deem an application incomplete where the survey threshold is not achieved, the employer questionnaire is incomplete, or required information is not supplied.
2.7 No refund shall be payable for incomplete applications unless otherwise stated.
2.8 The employer questionnaire and employee survey must be completed within the time frame specified, which unless stated otherwise is 14 days.
3. Fees
3.1 Fees are those published at registration.
3.2 Fees are payable upon registration and before surveys are issued.
3.3 Fees are exclusive of VAT unless stated otherwise.
4. Employer Questionnaire and Employee Surveys
4.1 Education Places to Work will provide survey links for distribution, alongside the employer questionnaire.
4.2 Survey responses are collected and processed by Education Places to Work.
4.3 Applicants must not influence responses, offer incentives for specific responses, or exclude eligible employees.
4.4 Education Places to Work may invalidate submissions where survey integrity has been compromised.
4.5 Responsibility for achieving the minimum survey response rate rests with the Applicant.
4.6 Application results may be shared with Education Personnel Management Limited (EPM), the registered company of nEdEx and Education Places to Work.
5. Accreditation Decisions and Appeals
5.1 All accreditation decisions are made by Education Places to Work in accordance with the Programme criteria.
5.2 Education Places to Work may amend scoring, thresholds, judging criteria and methodologies at any time.
5.3 Education Places to Work is not required to disclose detailed scoring calculations or internal methodologies.
5.4 Accreditation outcomes are awarded solely at Education Places to Work discretion.
5.5 Applicants may appeal within 14 days only where a material administrative or processing error is alleged.
5.6 Appeals must be submitted in writing with supporting evidence.
5.7 Appeals cannot be made simply because the Applicant disagrees with the outcome, methodology or professional judgement.
5.8 Education Places to Work will review valid appeals and communicate its decision in writing within 30 days.
5.9 Appeal decisions are final and binding.
5.10 Participation in the Programme constitutes acceptance that accreditation decisions are final and not subject to further dispute except where required by law.
6. Refund Policy
6.1 If an applicant does not meet the required criteria for ‘Certified’, the entrant will be offered a 20% discount towards future applications. This is only valid when the Applicant completes all Programme requirements (refer to terms 2), including the minimum survey participation threshold and employer questionnaire, but does not achieve the minimum certification standard.
6.2 In addition to the discount, Education Places to Work will provide a written action plan and recommendations for improvement.
6.3 No refund shall be payable where the Applicant achieves certification, withdraws after registration, fails to achieve the minimum survey threshold, fails to complete the employer questionnaire, misses deadlines, provides inaccurate information, compromises survey integrity, or breaches these Terms.
6.4 Any eligible discount must be redeemed within 12 months.
7. Use of Certification
7.1 Organisations may use the relevant certification badge, logo and materials supplied by Education Places to Work. These materials must not be amended, altered or modified in any way without prior written consent from Education Places to Work.
7.2 Organisations may continue to use the certification materials beyond the period for which the award was granted, provided that the original award year remains clearly displayed and unchanged.
8. Intellectual Property - All branding, methodologies, reports, frameworks and materials remain the property of Education Places to Work.
9. Limitation of Liability - Education Places to Work does not guarantee improvements in engagement, recruitment, retention or accreditation outcomes. Liability is limited to the fee paid.
10. Termination - Education Places to Work may terminate participation for breach of these Terms. No refund shall be payable where termination results from Applicant misconduct.
11. Data Protection - EPM will process personal data in accordance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Survey responses will be anonymised where possible.
12. Governing Law - These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.