If he was stopped for speeding and dealt with at the roadside, most likely one of two things would happen:
1) If he was eligible (Eg, he didn't have to many points on his licence) then he may have been offered an Endorsable Fixed Penalty Notice (E-FPN), which is basically a conditional offer of £60 fine and three points as an alternative to attending court. Newer E-FPNs do also have the option for speed awareness courses on them as an alternative to points, if the issuing officer deems it appropriate.
When the officer writes the ticket, it's carbonated, so two copies are produced. One is given to the person being dealt with, and the other copy the bobby would sent to his/her Central Ticket Office (CTO). The CTO (usually manned by civvies) then make the relevent arrangements for the licence endorsement / course.
2) In some cases an Endorsable FPN isn't suitable - examples include if there are more than one offence, (eg, speeding and on the phone) - or if the speed is so excessive it's only appropriate for a court to deal with it. If this was the case, the person stopped wouldn't usually be given any paperwork, simply a verbal 'NIP' - "you will be reported for the consideration of the question of prosecution for excess speed etc"
All forces are slightly different, it may well be that the officer simply recorded your sons details in his Pocket book, said the magic words to him, and will then make the background arrangements for the speed awareness.
In both cases, he would have been 'cautioned' - eg given his rights, before being spoken to and dealt with. (you don't have to say anything, etc....)
The good news is that Speed awareness is only usually offered to people who are not too far over the limit. So take some comfort from that fact - it's unlikely he is in serious trouble.
We have all without exception done it. He was just unfortunate enough to get zapped.
Get him to take it on the chin, it won't be a biggie for him
