We have always aimed to support our students by providing online access to study texts for reference - specifically for those who had previously purchased them and wished to view the most up to date versions.
However, over the past few years, this system has been compromised. Despite clear guidance that study texts should not be downloaded or copied, we discovered that the materials had been widely distributed without permission. Alarmingly, complete study texts were being sold on platforms like eBay and made available for free download on sites such as Scrib’d. Not only was this a serious breach of our intellectual property rights, but it also misled students into purchasing outdated and potentially incorrect materials from unreliable sources.
As a result, the PFS Board made the immediate decision to remove the study texts from online access and contact the sellers to address the infringement of our IP rules.
Since then, we’ve been working behind the scenes to develop a more secure solution. A new encrypted system is currently being trialled and will enable students who have previously purchased a study text to access the most current version as a reference resource. This ensures that those who have invested in their learning continue to benefit from accurate and up to date materials. We aim to have this system up and running for Q3.
It’s important to note that study texts are not - and were never intended to be - freely available resources. A significant amount of work and investment goes into their creation and ongoing updates.
As an Ofqual-regulated awarding body, we are also required to ensure the learning materials we provide are accurate and aligned with the corresponding assessments.
We remain committed to supporting our students' learning journeys - and ensuring those who purchase legitimate materials always have access to the latest versions.