The Access Programme exists so schools whose students would benefit most from stronger independent revision habits are not priced out of participating. The student app is free for every student. This programme adjusts only the school-level fee.
Public data is official. Access tiers are StudySnaps policy. StudySnaps uses public indicators such as IDACI, Pupil Premium, Ofsted reports, GIAS records, and published DfE/ESFA notices to determine eligibility. The thresholds below are set by StudySnaps for this programme — they are not DfE or Ofsted categories.
Headline price: £9,000 per school per year, fixed price, whole-school, Years 7 to 11. The tier your school qualifies for is determined by the criteria you meet — not by negotiation. Students always use StudySnaps free.
Qualifies if: One Standard criterion.
25% waiver. School pays 75% of headline price (£6,750 per school per year).
Qualifies if: Two Standard criteria, or one Severe criterion.
50% waiver. School pays 50% of headline price (£4,500 per school per year).
Qualifies if: Three or more Standard criteria, or one Severe plus one Standard, or two or more Severe criteria, or any auto-qualifying category.
75% waiver. School pays 25% of headline price (£2,250 per school per year).
The deepest tier is Access 75, not a full waiver. Every school in the programme retains some commitment — even at Access 75, the school contributes 25% of the headline price.
A school that is stretched. Meeting one counts toward your tier.
School's most recent published IDACI-linked deprivation data places it in decile 3.
Evidence: Public IDACI / DfE dataPupil Premium percentage (eligible pupils ÷ total pupils, FSM Ever 6 basis) is 35% to 49%.
Evidence: Latest school census / DfE Pupil Premium allocationsSchool is in its second or third year of operation.
Evidence: Get Information About Schools (GIAS) "Open date" / school recordsCurrent or most recent Ofsted judgement indicating below-standard performance, including legacy "Requires Improvement", or a current report-card area graded "needs attention" or "urgent improvement".
Evidence: Latest Ofsted report or report cardAcademy within a trust currently subject to an open DfE/ESFA Notice to Improve or Financial Notice to Improve relating to financial management, governance, or financial health.
Evidence: Published DfE/ESFA academies financial notices to improveA school in a much harder position. One Severe criterion can qualify you for Access 50 on its own.
School's most recent published IDACI-linked deprivation data places it in decile 1 or 2 (most deprived).
Evidence: Public IDACI / DfE dataPupil Premium percentage (eligible pupils ÷ total pupils, FSM Ever 6 basis) is 50% or higher.
Evidence: Latest school census / DfE Pupil Premium allocationsSchool is in its first academic year of operation.
Evidence: Get Information About Schools (GIAS) "Open date" / school recordsSchool is currently in an Ofsted category of concern, including "requires special measures" or "requires significant improvement".
Evidence: Latest Ofsted monitoring reportThese settings qualify for Access 75 automatically.
From November 2025, Ofsted moved to report cards and no longer issues a single overall judgement for new inspections. Legacy judgements such as "Requires Improvement" remain valid evidence until reinspection. Under the new system, Standard criterion S4 is met where a report-card area is graded "needs attention" or "urgent improvement". Severe criterion V4 is met where the school is in a current category of concern.
IDACI decile 3 only.
Access 25
Legacy "Requires Improvement" (or report-card "needs attention") and Pupil Premium 40%.
Access 50
Currently in an Ofsted category of concern ("requires special measures" or "requires significant improvement").
Access 50
Ofsted category of concern and IDACI decile 1.
Access 75
Pupil referral unit (GIAS establishment type).
Access 75
No financial accounts or commercial-in-confidence information required. Decisions are made against the published criteria, not at discretion. Approved schools receive a confirmation letter for governors or the trust.
Founding-school pilots are free for a fixed period (minimum 3 weeks, maximum 6 weeks). After the pilot ends, schools review results against agreed thresholds, decide whether to continue, and check Access Programme eligibility if continuing.
Off-the-record discount requests.
A published programme with clear criteria.
Long commercial back-and-forth.
A short process with a clear decision.
Access based on negotiation strength.
Access based on school context and evidence.
Uncertainty about affordability.
Tiered support designed from day one.