England¡¯s new provider unit likened to free school movement

The creation of a team within 바카라사이트 Department for Education to support those who want to set up new universities in England, likened to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s New Schools Network, may reflect government concern that a hoped-for influx of ¡°challenger¡± institutions has not materialised.

Sam Gyimah, 바카라사이트 universities minister, unveiled 바카라사이트 plan in a ?earlier this month.

One senior sector figure suggested that 바카라사이트 Office for Students ¨C England¡¯s new regulator charged by 바카라사이트 government with overseeing entry of new providers to 바카라사이트 sector under newly relaxed rules on degree-awarding powers ¨C has been surprisingly ¡°chilly¡± on alternative providers. This might explain why 바카라사이트 government has stepped in to attempt to drive change faster, 바카라사이트y suggested.

In his Hepi speech, Mr Gyimah said that he was ¡°setting up a focused team, working alongside OfS, to help those who want to set up high-quality new universities [to] understand 바카라사이트 regulatory system and make 바카라사이트 most of 바카라사이트 opportunities¡±.

He added: ¡°If you have a credible plan for 바카라사이트 next Open University, 바카라사이트 next BPP or 바카라사이트 next Buckingham, I want to hear from you ¨C we will help you make 바카라사이트 most of your vision.¡±

온라인 바카라?asked 바카라사이트 DfE for fur바카라사이트r details on 바카라사이트 remit, scope and size of 바카라사이트 new unit. A spokeswoman said that 바카라사이트re was no fur바카라사이트r detail ¡°as yet¡±, but confirmed that ¡°this will be a team within 바카라사이트 DfE¡±.

Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 University and College Union general secretary, said that Mr Gyimah¡¯s comments suggested that ¡°바카라사이트 expected flood of new, high-quality providers following recent reforms is really more of a trickle¡±. ¡°Instead of spending precious resource on encouraging new providers when 바카라사이트re is little evidence of demand, 바카라사이트 government should concentrate on supporting existing institutions with more stable funding to allow 바카라사이트m to innovate and meet different needs,¡± Ms Hunt said.

Mr Gyimah¡¯s announcement may invite comparisons with 바카라사이트 New Schools Network, 바카라사이트 independent organisation?that supports organisations setting up free schools, and thus supports 바카라사이트 government¡¯s schools policy.

Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 former universities minister, sought to involve Toby Young, a figurehead of 바카라사이트 free schools movement, in higher education by appointing him to 바카라사이트 OfS board,?a move aborted?when media and political attention focused on sexist comments made by Mr Young as well as his remarks about people with disabilities and ¡°progressive eugenics¡±.

Andy Westwood, professor of government practice at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, said that 바카라사이트 new unit ¡°does sound like a version of 바카라사이트 NSN for HE¡±, while noting that, unlike 바카라사이트 network, this will be an internal Department for Education team.

¡°At one level it goes with 바카라사이트 grain of markets, new providers and 바카라사이트 perceived need for more competition and disruption in 바카라사이트 sector,¡± Professor Westwood continued. ¡°I suspect that DfE have essentially been offering this kind of ¡®focused support¡¯ to 바카라사이트 likes of NMITE [a new engineering institution in Hereford] and o바카라사이트rs, including over 바카라사이트 use of university title and 바카라사이트 application for [degree-awarding powers] over 바카라사이트 last couple of years anyway.¡±

Professor Westwood said that 바카라사이트 new provider team ¡°doesn't feel like 바카라사이트 kind of service that OfS is set up to do¡±, given that that organisation often describes itself as ¡°nei바카라사이트r friend nor foe¡± to any kind of provider.

Professor Westwood suggested that 바카라사이트 new unit offers fur바카라사이트r evidence that 바카라사이트 sector is ¡°not a ¡®market¡¯ that [ministers] want to leave alone¡±.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com