Office for Students (OfS)

The regulator’s published approach to enforcement lacks basic safeguards around transparency, fairness and accountability, says Smita Jamdar 

Regulator’s former chair also says fears ‘half a dozen or more’ institutions would collapse in pandemic were averted via its support

Wide-ranging investigation will look at powers held by English higher education regulator and its relationship with government

OfS’ proposed scheme might unintentionally endorse personal relationships between staff and students, campaigners warn

English regulator plans to order institutions to create registers of relationships, with expectation that staff who keep liaisons secret will be sacked

Hopes that a new regulator would bring light-touch, proportionate regulation in England have been dashed, says Iain Mansfield

English regulator concedes providers being asked to do too much, too quickly and gives most another year to work on plans

Chief executive Susan Lapworth says regulator will ‘respond positively and practically’ to recommendations from highly critical report

Agency rebuts Office for Students report which ‘substantially misrepresents’ role in assessing higher education providers, as major rift exposed

Concerns over regulator’s independence and sweeping new powers necessitates parliamentary investigation, letter to Robin Walker states

Ministers accused of adding bureaucracy then ‘putting the costs on universities’ with planned rise while cutting student support in real terms

Reports of a 13 per cent rise in registration fees is unjustifiable in the current economic environment, says Stephen Marston

With much still unclear, complaints procedures are likely to be lengthy and fraught with contention, says Gill Evans

Academics Peter Mathieson and Vernon Bogdanor among those knighted for services to their disciplines or the sector

Regulator tells universities free speech codes should cover teaching and academics will be polled, bringing ‘independence’ rebuke

Two-thirds of larger providers failing to meet every student outcomes benchmark in every subject, THE analysis finds

English regulator focuses on law, business and computing courses not meeting thresholds for continuation, completion and progression

Evaluation report finds some institutions ‘slow to prioritise this issue’, leading to need for more regulation to ensure ‘consistent approach’ across sector

Students in England will no longer be asked about the overall quality of their course despite opposition to the move

English regulator ‘moving forward’ with registration condition and student survey that could spotlight individual universities for intervention

English regulator announces long-awaited thresholds higher education providers must meet to avoid the risk of sanctions

Hitting targets ‘not the be-all and end-all’, John Blake tells THE, as national risk register for higher education participation planned

Concerns over ‘sharp increase’ in number of firsts and 2.1s awarded warrant ‘further scrutiny’, according to regulator

Interim chief handed job permanently at crucial time for English regulator

Internationally renowned experts relinquish quality role just as English regulator steps up interventions 

Overall satisfaction question to go in shake-up of influential poll, regulator confirms

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