Office for Students (OfS)
Independent quality body steps back from providing assessments for OfS due to non-compliance with European standards
English universities can protect institutional autonomy from interventionist regulators by equipping boards with skills, says Hepi policy note
Rejections up, but data show universities ‘remain places where debate and the sharing of ideas can thrive’, says OfS
Office for Students accounts also confirm £915,000 payment to for-profit college that successfully challenged refusal of registration in court
Public Accounts Committee criticises Office for Students and DfE, while warning some institutions are being ‘put at risk’ by reliance on overseas fees
Education secretary proposes amendment to higher education legislation to address calls for more transparency
Following ministerial orders, England’s independent regulator will look at business and management courses, including online provision
Academics claim Lord Wharton’s appearance at CPAC Hungary is incompatible with his role at top of English regulator
Older and more prestigious institutions could be among the 10 to 15 being inspected next year
Forty-year-old ALRA shut just days after students had paid fees
New director of fair access calls for institutions to take greater role in improving attainment across education system
Government also demands English regulator mount 10-15 on-site inspections checking factors such as use of online teaching
Universities UK raises concern about ‘requires improvement’ TEF rating and overall administrative burden
National Audit Office says regulator must do more to ‘build trust’ with sector and DfE should clarify level of ‘tolerance for provider failure’
Tory peer Lord Wharton ‘disgusted’ by ‘attacks’ on Ukrainian-born energy tycoon, whose firm he has advised and who donated to him as MP
Long-serving director will take helm when Nicola Dandridge leaves Office for Students
Concern that ‘prioritisation’ process for investigations opens up risk of political interference
Requiring 60 per cent of graduates to go into managerial or professional roles ignores the reality of creative careers, says Bashir Makhoul
Latest stage of English plan to tackle ‘poor quality’ via absolute baselines for student outcomes brings threat of punishment for institutions that fall short
If the English regulator agrees to tear up universities’ current access plans it risks undermining any perception of autonomy, says Geoffrey Alderman
‘There will not be armies of OfS inspectors assessing teaching quality,’ says chief executive in annual report
Office for Students examining whether university met obligations on academic freedom and free speech, following criticism by minister
New Office for Students strategy also promises action on free speech, sexual harassment and ‘levelling up’
Chief executive’s departure may help new chair to reshape English sector regulator
Institutions could face fines if they do not assess written English, sector regulator says
English sector leaders fear cuts to London weighting and arts funding could be compounded by fee cut
New scholarships and admissions policies may help to address low participation from Traveller communities, but outreach and curricula should also change, argues Emily Danvers
Regulator proposes new conditions of registration that also include standard on grade inflation
It is not in the interests of institutions with high-quality provision to offer courses that fall short of the mark, says OfS chair Lord Wharton
‘Patronising’ to expect lower standards from students from disadvantaged backgrounds, says OfS following newspaper report
Initiatives on mental health and sexual harassment are welcome, but racial discrimination also demands greater attention, says David Mba
Tory peer hopes for role in selecting ‘thoughtful’ appointee to free speech champion role
Government says it will give OfS powers to enforce ‘minimum expectations of quality’ before regulator responds to consultation on plan
Office for Students will reflect on whether it is inflicting needless red tape on higher education, says its new chair
New chair and ministers have scope to reshape regulator, as leadership and board roles potentially open up at politically fraught time
Ex-chair discusses his time at regulator, next project reviewing delivery for the Westminster government and new book Accomplishment
Regulator goes ahead with new guidance despite opposition from sector, citing impact of Covid-19 on sector finances
But first phase of review ordered by ministers finds preference to continue with ‘existing annual census’
Graduate employment outcomes are obviously crucial. Yet we must be wary of judging courses and institutions on the basis of a few useful but misleading metrics
Given the year we've just had, we might expect some acknowledgment of the need to address student welfare online, say Andy Phippen and Emma Bond
Appointment of former Conservative MP as chair of English higher education regulator ‘adds to catalogue of cronyism’
Gavin Williamson tells English regulator it ‘should not hesitate’ to issue fines if planned absolute baselines are not met
Education Select Committee endorses appointment of Lord Wharton as Office for Students chair
Lord Wharton says ‘top universities’ should have lighter-touch regulation in pre-appointment hearing
Outgoing Office for Students chair defends university expansion before taking up government role
Office for Students proposal to measure student progress to ‘professional’ jobs without benchmarking could deter universities from recruiting disadvantaged learners, sector warns
Lord Wharton of Yarm urged to get up to speed with challenges as ‘quickly as possible’ if appointment confirmed
Lord Wharton set to succeed Sir Michael Barber at helm of English sector regulator
Chair of English regulator criticises universities for talking up independence and then seeking support during pandemic
English regulator to work with students and their unions to increase awareness of its powers
Office for Students sets out plans for tougher minimum standards related to student outcomes, including degree completion rates and graduate employment
Bloomsbury Institute added to English register after Court of Appeal quashed Office for Students’ original refusal
As DfE prioritises drive against ‘low-value’ courses, TEF said to be viewed as inadequate while OfS may be reset under new chair
Former Theresa May adviser Nick Timothy to interview hopefuls to head regulator, alongside Tory peer, former Tory MP and ex-Tory candidate
English regulator ordered to pay substantial costs to Bloomsbury Institute after blocking loan access
English regulator also says it wants to reduce overall burden on providers
Long-awaited publication of Pearce review expected in autumn, but lack of time and changes in government priorities make 2021 awards unlikely
English regulator consults on proposals to force institutions to ‘teach out’ existing students before closing
New rule represents scaling back of ‘alarmingly broad’ original proposal from regulator
Head of English regulator will not seek a second term and will leave in spring 2021
