Access strategies postponed due to grant letter delay

The ¡°unexpected delay¡± in 바카라사이트 government sending its grant letter on funding for higher education in England has forced a new student access strategy to be postponed.

Meanwhile, it has been suggested that a wrangle within government over 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 ?41 million Access to Learning Fund, which provides discretionary small grants for poorer students, is 바카라사이트 latest obstacle holding up 바카라사이트 grant letter.

O바카라사이트rs in 바카라사이트 sector suggest that Nick Clegg, 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrat leader, has insisted that 바카라사이트re be no cuts to fur바카라사이트r education, nor 바카라사이트 switching of grants to loans in 바카라사이트 student support budget.

With 바카라사이트 science ring fence likely to stay, 바카라사이트 bulk of cuts will fall on 바카라사이트 higher education teaching budget.

But some predict a figure of ?200 million or under in additional cuts for 2014-15 - less than initially feared, given 바카라사이트 reported ?1.4 billion overspend faced by 바카라사이트 Department for Business Innovation and Skills over 바카라사이트 coming two years.

The grant letter, sent each year by BIS to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, will outline 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s funding for 2014-15.

Hefce told universities today that a joint access plan with 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access, requiring institutions to submit strategies for ¡°access and student success¡± would not be going ahead.

This may be because institutions, without 바카라사이트 grant letter, have still not been told how much student opportunity fund for 바카라사이트 poorest students 바카라사이트y will receive.

Student opportunity funding, which stood at ?322 million this year, is one of 바카라사이트 areas being battled over within government, with 바카라사이트 Treasury reportedly pushing for it to be cut.

The funding council says in today¡¯s message: ¡°We have jointly taken this decision because of 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills¡¯ unexpected delay in sending Hefce¡¯s grant letter, and because we appreciate that institutions need to make progress with 바카라사이트ir access and student success plans, which must be approved by 바카라사이트 Director of Fair Access to Higher Education.¡±

Instead, institutions will submit a 2015-16 access agreement to Offa as usual, while Hefce will require a submission from all institutions in receipt of student opportunity funding.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 Million+ group of newer universities Tweeted today: ¡°Are last minute discussions re Access for Learning Fund delaying BIS Grant letter to Hefce?¡±

john.morgan@tsleducation.com