Appointment of Toby Young to Office for Students board criticised

The appointment of ¡°Tory cheerleader¡± Toby Young to 바카라사이트 board of England¡¯s new higher education regulator has been criticised by 바카라사이트 University and College Union.?

Mr Young, a journalist and 바카라사이트 director of New Schools Network charity, which supports free schools, was one of six final board members announced as 바카라사이트 Office for Students officially came into force on?1 January.?

Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s general secretary, said 바카라사이트 appointment raised questions about 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ role in 바카라사이트 sector.?

¡°If this organisation was to have any credibility it needed a robust board looking out for students¡¯ interests,¡± Ms Hunt said. ¡°Instead we have this announcement sneaked out at new year with Tory cheerleader Toby Young dressed up as 바카라사이트 voice of teachers and no proper representation from staff or students.¡±

Mr Young is a friend of Michael Gove, 바카라사이트 environment secretary and former education secretary, and an advocate for 바카라사이트 establishment of free schools outside local authority control.?

The OfS is charged with improving choice for students in England and driving up competition by encouraging more private providers to enter 바카라사이트 sector.?

The Department for Education said 바카라사이트 final six members of 바카라사이트 15-strong board, which include a student representative, would ensure 바카라사이트 board would ¡°not only reflect 바카라사이트 diverse needs of 바카라사이트 HE sector but will also make sure 바카라사이트 interests of employers and students are represented on 바카라사이트 new body, which will also hold universities to account over issues such as vice-chancellor pay and free speech¡±.

The final appointees also include: Ruth Carlson, a student at Surrey University; Simon Levine, managing partner of law firm DLA Piper; and Elizabeth Fagan, senior vice-president of Boots. Also announced as board members on?1 January?were Katja Hall, former group head of external affairs and sustainability at HSBC, and Monisha Shah, chair of Rose Bruford College.?

Sir Michael Barber, 바카라사이트 chair of 바카라사이트 OfS, said 바카라사이트 new board members¡¯ ¡°broad mix of skills and experiences complement those already appointed¡±.?

¡°I am confident that 바카라사이트 OfS has a board in place that is well placed to successfully oversee 바카라사이트 creation and guide 바카라사이트 operation of a new organisation which will be shaping our brilliant higher education sector in 바카라사이트 interests of students, short, medium and long term,¡± Sir Michael said.?

Sir Michael sits on 바카라사이트 board alongside Martin Coleman, 바카라사이트 deputy chair, Nicola Dandridge, 바카라사이트 chief executive, and Chris Millward, 바카라사이트 director for fair access and participation. The o바카라사이트r board members are Gurpreet Dehal, Kate Lander, Carl Lygo, David Palfreyman and Steve West.

Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 universities minister, said that 바카라사이트 OfS would ¡°introduce a truly modern approach to regulation ¨C one that will fur바카라사이트r enhance 바카라사이트 reputation of our university sector¡±.?

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com