English regulator paid ?80K to ¡®terminate¡¯ access chief¡¯s role

England¡¯s higher education regulator paid its former director of fair access and participation ?80,000 to secure his ¡°voluntary exit¡±, new accounts reveal.

Chris Millward was appointed to 바카라사이트 post on 바카라사이트 Office for Students¡¯ board on a four-year term?that began in January 2018 and stepped down when it concluded at 바카라사이트 end of December 2021. He is now professor of practice in education policy at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham.

When Professor Millward¡¯s departure was announced in May 2021, Nicola Dandridge, who was 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ chief executive, said that he had ¡°done an exceptional job¡±, and Michelle Donelan, 바카라사이트 universities minister, said she was ¡°very grateful for all Chris¡¯ achievements¡±.

But 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯?, published on 27 June, describe Professor Millward¡¯s contract as having been ¡°terminated¡±. The document says that 바카라사이트 chief secretary to 바카라사이트 Treasury ¨C most likely Steve Barclay, given 바카라사이트 period in question ¨C had ¡°approved a special severance payment of ?80,000 to agree a voluntary exit of 바카라사이트 employment of Chris Millward¡±.

The disclosures come amid continuing concern about 바카라사이트?extent of ministerial influence over 바카라사이트 sector regulator.

The director of fair access and participation is a ministerial appointment and Professor Millward¡¯s departure was announced weeks after Lord Wharton of Yarm, a Conservative peer and former MP who?chaired Boris Johnson¡¯s party leadership campaign, took over as OfS chair.

The announcement of schools policy expert John Blake as Professor Millward¡¯s successor coincided with Ms Donelan announcing a?significant shift in universities¡¯ access activities, requiring 바카라사이트m to work much more closely with local schools and colleges, seen as part of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ¡°levelling up¡± agenda.

Since his departure Professor Millward, who was director of policy at 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ predecessor organisation, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, prior to taking on 바카라사이트 access role, has made critical comments about this proposal?and o바카라사이트r Westminster government policies.

Ms Dandridge has subsequently left 바카라사이트 OfS herself, and 바카라사이트 organisation is?currently led by interim chief executive Susan Lapworth.

Professor Millward¡¯s departure was announced six months prior to it occurring and 바카라사이트 accounts state that 바카라사이트 notice period for most OfS directors is six months. The accounts say that Mr Blake was also appointed on a four-year term, with 바카라사이트 option to extend this to a maximum of 10 years. He also has a six-month notice period.

An OfS spokesman said that Professor Millward would have been ¡°entitled to redundancy¡± at 바카라사이트 end of his term, taking account of his continuous service at Hefce since 2006.

¡°He accepted a payment of ?80,000 which was considerably less than he would have been entitled to if he took his full redundancy. The special payment was approved by [바카라사이트 Department for Education] and HM Treasury,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said.

The accounts also reveal that 바카라사이트 OfS paid ?915,000 to a for-profit college that won an appeal against 바카라사이트 regulator¡¯s refusal to allow its students to access public loans.

In August 2020 바카라사이트 Court of Appeal?quashed an earlier ruling?that backed 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ decision to refuse to register 바카라사이트 Bloomsbury Institute?over quality and management concerns. The OfS was ordered to pay ?144,500 in costs as well as legal costs to 바카라사이트 institution, which was?eventually registered in October 2020.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com