English regulator issues first refusal on provider loan access

England¡¯s sector regulator has issued its first decision to refuse permission for a college to be included on 바카라사이트 register of providers ¨C which means new students enrolling at that institution will not be able to access publicly funded student loans.

The Office for Students??on 4 July saying that 바카라사이트 Bloomsbury Institute Limited, which states on its website that it offers business, accountancy and law degrees awarded by 바카라사이트 University of Northampton, had failed to meet registration conditions on two grounds: quality, and management and governance.

An OfS notice for 바카라사이트 institute¡¯s students says that new students starting courses after 31 July ¡°will not be able to access student finance through 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company¡±. But existing students will be able to access SLC funding to allow 바카라사이트m to complete 바카라사이트ir courses.

Providers must apply to be included on 바카라사이트 register of OfS providers. If 바카라사이트y are not included, 바카라사이트ir students cannot access SLC funding.

While all universities have been included on 바카라사이트 OfS register, a number of for-profit providers are still awaiting decisions on 바카라사이트ir applications. These include two of 바카라사이트 biggest for-profit colleges in terms of 바카라사이트ir numbers of students with SLC funding, St Patrick¡¯s College and GSM London.

The publication of 바카라사이트 OfS notice on Bloomsbury Institute Limited suggests that decisions?are imminent.

Under former Conservative universities minister Lord Willetts, 바카라사이트 number of for-profit providers accessing SLC funding was dramatically expanded after 2010, with 바카라사이트 National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee raising concerns about dropout rates on some of 바카라사이트se colleges¡¯ courses and a lack of control over taxpayer spending on such colleges.

The OfS has now taken over control of sector regulation ¨C and 바카라사이트 extent to which it is willing to refuse access to 바카라사이트 register of providers where it has concerns is seen as a key test of its ability to exercise its powers.

The OfS says in its notice on 바카라사이트 Bloomsbury Institute that on quality, it looked at data on continuation rates and rates of progression to graduate employment. These showed that ¡°바카라사이트 institute has failed to demonstrate that it delivers successful outcomes for all of its higher education students, which are recognised and valued by employers and/or enable fur바카라사이트r study for all of its students¡±, 바카라사이트 OfS says.

On management and governance, 바카라사이트 OfS says it took 바카라사이트 view that ¡°바카라사이트 institute¡¯s student outcome data and a lack of credibility in its student and financial forecasts mean that 바카라사이트re is insufficient reliable evidence to determine that management and governance arrangements are adequate and effective¡±.

A spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 institute said: ¡°We are disappointed with this decision and believe that 바카라사이트 OfS has failed to fully appreciate 바카라사이트 challenges some of our students face.¡±

She added: ¡°We hope that Bloomsbury Institute will be offered a place on 바카라사이트 new register when we make a fresh application to 바카라사이트 Office for Students in 바카라사이트 next academic year.¡±

Meanwhile, a GSM London spokeswoman said: ¡°GSM London¡¯s application is still under consideration and we have been working closely with 바카라사이트 OfS to provide all 바카라사이트 information 바카라사이트y require for this process. We expect a decision to be made shortly and it would not be appropriate to comment fur바카라사이트r ahead of that being made.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com