Quality assurance positions of the key players

HEFCE

HEFCE has not agreed to abandon numbers. The joint funding council said last year. "It is highly desirable that the QAA assessments should include summative quantified ratings as well as narrative descriptions of strengths and weaknesses".

They also warn that there must be proper external rigour.

CVCP

Vice-chancellors have rejected any system of assessing teaching quality which uses numbers arguing that it is too crude. It is understood that the CVCP will not accept a blueprint which includes numbers. They support plans for a light touch, but remain unconvinced that their burden will be lightened.

MINISTERS

Ministers' enthusiasm for performance indicators, and a "something for something" education funding culture, have led to specualtion that they are leading the calls to maintain a numerical TQA system.

QAA

After much internal debate, the QAA has settled on a teaching quality assessment system which excludes the use of numerical grades. But it looks like the QAA - caught between two almost directly opposed camps is hoping to implement a compromise, with a four-point word-based system, which could be converted into numbers.