I have recently passed my ICB level 2 manual and setting up as a self employed bookkeeper. I have had a couple of interested 'nibbles' so I think it is worth me doing a bit more training to get level 3 and probably the Payroll module. I used Ideal Schools in the past but they are quite expensive so I am planning to self study and see how I get on that way.
Does anyone have any recommendations of good books to use? The ICB Advanced Bookkeeping has quite good reviews on Amazon, has anyone here used it to pass level 3? Also, can you tell me if it covers payroll, and if not is there a book you can recommend?
I brought the Ideal schools payroll course a couple of years ago and didn't understand it so left it, came back to it last year and still didn't understand it! Brought the sage study books on ebay and whizzed through it, though it dosn't have all the legislation in there and I guess it depends on what you know. Have the level III books and they are ok, found them hardwork and got a course and did that in 7hrs just can't get an exam time to fit round nursery pick up and can't ask anyone as I have loads of hospital appts.
Quite a few people use the books to pass examinations now.
It would be good if you did well on your Level 2 course, if however you needed to contact your tutor regularly for support you may need that same support for Level III.
Payroll however, changes regularly so there are not many books out there as such. The Sage book I have not seen so you would have to make sure it teaches you the theory and legal side to payroll as this is in the syllabus, rather than just the software.
ES, I'm sorry your studies with Ideal Schools didn't work out. Had you at any stage contacted our tutors for assiatance as we have a team here who are very approachable and willing to help. Whenever students are struggling to understand any topic it is important that they call or email us, as we have no way of knowing of issues if we are not informed.
Jackie, are you aware that as a student of Ideal Schools you are entitled to a 10% discount on any future fees, and also have interest free payments available? The payroll course is the most expensive individual course option we have and this is because we issue fully licenced Sage 50 Payroll software, which you can continue to use on completion of your studies.
Our pass rate for the Payroll qualification is exceptionally high, with only one failure being recorded in our time offering this qualification, and we'd be confident in getting anyone through this course successfully.
Thanks for your responses. I found the level 2 reasonable straightforward, didn't really need to contact the tutors too often so sounds like the level 3 book would be a good option. Also, that explains why there is not really anything similar for Payroll, sounds like the Sage book would perhaps just cover how to use the software.
Brian, I didn't realise I could get a 10% discount on future courses, very interesting! I will price it up and perhaps go for that. Still trying to land my elusive first client so I feel like I need to prove to myself that I can make some money out this before spending too much more.
ES, I'm sorry your studies with Ideal Schools didn't work out. Had you at any stage contacted our tutors for assiatance as we have a team here who are very approachable and willing to help. Whenever students are struggling to understand any topic it is important that they call or email us, as we have no way of knowing of issues if we are not informed.
Jackie, are you aware that as a student of Ideal Schools you are entitled to a 10% discount on any future fees, and also have interest free payments available? The payroll course is the most expensive individual course option we have and this is because we issue fully licenced Sage 50 Payroll software, which you can continue to use on completion of your studies.
Our pass rate for the Payroll qualification is exceptionally high, with only one failure being recorded in our time offering this qualification, and we'd be confident in getting anyone through this course successfully.
Regards Brian McVean
Brian - I did at the time and it was a waste of time, I was referred back to the badly presented course notes. I hope you have changed the course notes I've looked at them again and tbh the Sage study books go into a lot more detail on the manual side than your course notes you provided me with.
It is clear that our style of course did not suit you and if our tutorial services consited of simply referring you back to the text, without any explanaition, then there would no need for us to have qualified tutors. Your experience is most unusual, certainly in my time working for Ideal Schools (in my 20th year), and this is certainly not how our support is offered.
On an annual basis our manual & computeried payroll courses are updated to fit in with any legislation changes and software updates and, as I previously mentioned, the overall pass rates for our students going through this course of study is exceptionally high, which I'm sure the ICB would verify to anyone questioning this.
It may also be relevant to mention that, as a registered provider of ICB courses, all materials issued to students are assessed by ICB to ensure quality.
Again, I am sorry for your experience but I'm happy that you managed to find a suitable alternative.
