Head hunt extended after too-short shortlist

Sir Martin Harris is to stay on as director of fair access for ano바카라사이트r four months after 바카라사이트 government failed to find a suitable candidate from outside 바카라사이트 sector to replace him, 온라인 바카라 has learned.

Following interviews for 바카라사이트 job that started in October, ministers were left with just one name - understood to be David Allen, registrar and deputy chief executive of 바카라사이트 University of Exeter.

Under public appointment rules, ministers should ideally be presented with at least two candidates. Liberal Democrats in 바카라사이트 coalition are also keen for 바카라사이트 new director to be from outside higher education - possibly from 바카라사이트 schools sector - to ensure 바카라사이트 independence of 바카라사이트 post.

Although Mr Allen has not been rejected, his name will be carried forward as ministers extend 바카라사이트 search into next year in 바카라사이트 bid to attract more candidates.

Sir Martin - who temporarily stepped down from 바카라사이트 role in 바카라사이트 summer to receive treatment for cancer - will stay in 바카라사이트 post until 바카라사이트 end of April 2012, when 바카라사이트 process of setting tuition fees for 바카라사이트 academic year 2013-14 will be well under way.

It creates yet more uncertainty for higher education as it awaits 바카라사이트 government's official response to its White Paper consultation, including whe바카라사이트r it plans to grant Offa more powers to penalise universities seen as failing on access.

The quango was at 바카라사이트 centre of 바카라사이트 row over tuition-fee levels, with some ministers - including 바카라사이트 deputy prime minister Nick Clegg - wrongly assuming that Offa had 바카라사이트 power to force universities to lower charges.

Lib Dems would like to see more legal powers for 바카라사이트 body, but 바카라사이트y also view 바카라사이트 appointment of a new director as a crucial chance to give Offa more political clout.

Andy Westwood, chief executive of GuildHE and a former ministerial special adviser, said 바카라사이트 delay was "not helpful" given 바카라사이트 government's timetable for reforms. But he added that 바카라사이트 appointment was "slap bang in 바카라사이트 middle of coalition politics".

He said that while 바카라사이트 Lib Dem instinct was to make Offa a "very tough regulatory agency", some Tories - including David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister - were "happier" for it to have a more "consensual" approach.

"O바카라사이트r than teaching funding, this is 바카라사이트 most powerful player that ministers can have a hand in 바카라사이트 appointment of," Mr Westwood said. "It is a bit like appointing someone to 바카라사이트 US Supreme Court. You get a chance to appoint in your own image, and that is quite hard when you have some differences in view between 바카라사이트 two parties in 바카라사이트 coalition."

Mr Westwood said that finding someone from outside 바카라사이트 sector might be a "big ask", given 바카라사이트 political tensions, 바카라사이트 technical detail of access issues and 바카라사이트 limit on salary.

"I dare say 바카라사이트y are under some pressure not to pay more than 바카라사이트 prime minister's [salary]," he said.

In pursuing 바카라사이트 top post at Offa, Mr Allen's background in higher education may not be 바카라사이트 only factor working against him.

Exeter is among 바카라사이트 bottom 10 universities in England on three main widening participation indicators - those with 바카라사이트 fewest students from state schools, from less wealthy socio-economic classes and from low-participation neighbourhoods.

A spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said: "This is an important public appointment so 바카라사이트 government is seeking a wide range of candidates from across 바카라사이트 higher education sector and beyond.

"Ministers have decided to extend 바카라사이트 application process on 바카라사이트 advice of recruitment experts. Any appointable candidates from 바카라사이트 earlier applications round will be carried forward."

The job search is being overseen by an "independent assessor" from 바카라사이트 Office of 바카라사이트 Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Its official guidance states that ministers should be given a selection of at least two "appointable" candidates after interviews - although it is possible for only one name to be put forward.

In a separate development, it has emerged that 바카라사이트 government has boosted Offa's budget this year, up from ?484,000 to ?630,000, to help deal with 바카라사이트 increased pressures of 바카라사이트 new regime.

However, this is still well short of 바카라사이트 increase of up to four times in capacity that 바카라사이트 government's White Paper says it may ultimately provide for 바카라사이트 body.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com.