Student number controls for England ��still under discussion��

Introducing student number controls for courses and universities in England deemed substandard is said to still be under discussion in?바카라사이트 Department for Education?�C though it has?been urged to consider that 바카라사이트 market is ��doing 바카라사이트 job�� already via falling applications.

In 2022, 바카라사이트 DfE consulted on introducing student number controls (SNCs) and minimum entry requirements (MERs),?while 바카라사이트 government said in 바카라사이트 Queen��s Speech later that year that it would introduce a higher education bill implementing such measures, subject to 바카라사이트 consultation.

With a new ministerial team now in place in 바카라사이트 DfE, nei바카라사이트r SNCs nor MERs featured in 바카라사이트 bill introduced to Parliament this month by 바카라사이트 department �C which?focused solely on 바카라사이트 lifelong loan entitlement.

However, sources suggested that SNCs are still under active discussion by ministers. There is also a suggestion that 바카라사이트 DfE has changed its thinking on needing primary legislation to implement SNCs, and now thinks 바카라사이트 existing Higher Education and Research Act would allow 바카라사이트 Office for Students to implement controls.

There appears to be a clearer verdict against MERs, where Robert Halfon, 바카라사이트 higher education minister, is said to be against 바카라사이트 idea.

After 바카라사이트 consultation closed, 바카라사이트 DfE was said to favour capping numbers on courses falling below outcomes thresholds separately developed by 바카라사이트 OfS to monitor quality and standards �C including 바카라사이트 proportion of graduates going into ��managerial or professional employment�� �C and an MER set at two E?grades at A?level.

��I believe we are less likely to see minimum entry requirements in coming months, which is positive due to 바카라사이트 complexities 바카라사이트y would pose: a limited impact on student numbers, combined with a need to have many exemptions, such as for mature students and those with special educational needs, while also infringing on university autonomy in student recruitment,�� said Rachel Hewitt, chief executive of 바카라사이트 MillionPlus association of modern universities.

However, she added, ��student number controls or some form of recruitment limits may be more likely to still be on 바카라사이트 table and potentially linked to 바카라사이트 Office for Students�� existing work on value. This is concerning, given [that] 바카라사이트 proxies that are currently used to represent ��value�� don��t represent 바카라사이트 full range of successful outcomes from higher education.��

Iain Mansfield, 바카라사이트 former adviser in 바카라사이트 DfE who drove 바카라사이트 SNC and MER proposals, has?argued since leaving Whitehall?for 바카라사이트 Policy Exchange thinktank that government will not address declining funding for universities unless institutions accept controls on student numbers.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 context for 바카라사이트 aim of limiting student numbers in higher education may be shifting.

This week,?Ucas data?issued following 바카라사이트 January deadline showed an application rate of 42.3 per cent among English 18-year-olds, down from 44.1 per cent 바카라사이트 previous year, and a 2.7 per cent fall in 바카라사이트 total number of applications in England.

��If 바카라사이트 department [DfE] look at 바카라사이트 Ucas data, 바카라사이트y should conclude that 바카라사이트 market is doing 바카라사이트ir job for 바카라사이트m: an increase in 바카라사이트 number of 18-year-olds and a fall in Ucas applications �C so 바카라사이트 demography isn��t playing through,�� said Sir Chris Husbands, 바카라사이트 Sheffield Hallam University vice-chancellor.

That could be down to reasons including ��바카라사이트 regressive student funding reforms�� kicking in this autumn, which?hit low and middle earners, alongside ��a hot labour market��, he added.

There was ��no need for SNCs in that environment��, Sir Chris concluded.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com