If you do one of these do you still have to inform insurance company and does it affect your premiums?
I know it prevents the points going on your license but was wondering if you still have to declare when renewing insurance?
Thanks

Seems to be a grey area according to a local police site

10) Do I need to tell my insurance company that I've attended a Speed Awareness Course?
The following guidance comes from the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS), who are responsible for developing the National Speed Awareness Course.

The insurance industry is becoming increasingly interested in NDORS attendance and completion. A frequently asked question from people being offered and attending courses is whether or not an NDORS course offer and attendance should be notified to their insurers. Legal advice is that attendance on an NDORS course is not a conviction, nor should it be treated as a conviction, unlike a fixed penalty. However, as always, the detail is in the small print.
There appears to be a very inconsistent approach by the industry to NDORS, with some insurers adjusting premiums once notified and others displaying no interest whatsoever. If an insurance company has asked, on its proposal form, at the time the insurance policy is first taken out, whether a driver has attended or is about to attend an NDORS course, then an honest answer must be given. Failure to do so would render the policy void. Similarly if, having answered "no" to such a question, the driver subsequently accepts an offer of a course, it is advisable to notify the insurance company as, by asking the question at the time the policy began, the insurance company has shown that they consider the answer to be material. Conversely if the insurance company has asked no questions about a course and has limited their questions purely to accidents and convictions within specified periods, then it is difficult to see how they could later suggest that attendance at a course designed to improve driver skills represents a material change.

This situation is currently being looked at on a national level between the Course providers (NDORS) and the insurance industry governing body.
Until a satisfactory resolution is developed, we recommend that you keep your insurance company appraised of any re-education courses that you've attended. Failure to do so could invalidate your policy with some companies.
- See more at: http://www.sussexsaferroads.gov.uk/the-speed-awareness-course/speed-awareness-faqs.html#sthash.nCYImV5s.dpuf

Surely having to tell the insurance company makes a mockery of teh whole thing. You pay an amount for the course similar to that of a speeding finebut dont get points. So what is the point of the whole thing if the insurance company still has to record it and I am sure it will affect your premiums whatever they say. I suppose if you are a regulalr speeder it allows you to keep your licence a bit longer. Which is not the point of the excercise

My thoughts exactly!
I might aswell pay the fine (same amount as the course) and take points if the insurance companies will still put up premium.
You can't repeat the within 3yrs I think so if you are a serial speeder then this won't help for you long.

Go on the course.  It's good.  You get free food and drink. Also a biro that lasts about 6 months (lol).  You also meet other speeders like yourself.