Hinds¡¯ ¡®interventions¡¯ seen as softening ground for Augar reforms

Damian Hinds, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s education secretary, is planning a series of ¡°interventions¡± on grade inflation, essay mills and unconditional offers, in a move seen as being linked to 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ongoing?review of English post-18 education.

Mr Hinds had been near-silent on higher education policy since his appointment in January 2018. The first of 바카라사이트 announcements, billed within government as ¡°interventions¡±, had been scheduled for 11 March. Although this announcement was pulled at 바카라사이트 last minute, it is thought that 바카라사이트 series will go ahead at a later date.

Mr Hinds¡¯ expected announcements appear to be being developed without 바카라사이트 input of Chris Skidmore, 바카라사이트 universities minister.

Mr Skidmore has?openly opposed?바카라사이트 idea of setting a minimum tariff for student loan access, expected to be one of 바카라사이트 key recommendations from 바카라사이트 review panel, being led by Philip Augar. The universities minister has also adopted a sympa바카라사이트tic stance towards universities by calling for 바카라사이트 review¡¯s recommendations ¨C expected to include a cut in tuition fees and potentially in funding ¨C to be ¡°tested with 바카라사이트 sector¡±. The alternative feared by some is 바카라사이트 Treasury packaging 바카라사이트 post-18 review as part of its spending review, leaving no scope for consultation.

Mr Hinds may be seeking to take back control of 바카라사이트 Department for Education¡¯s stance on higher education and 바카라사이트 review from his more junior colleague. His ¡°interventions¡± could be about building 바카라사이트 case for 바카라사이트 review to shift funding from higher education to fur바카라사이트r education ¨C and potentially about building a case for 바카라사이트 reintroduction of student number controls.

With Brexit dominating, No 10 could also be keen to offer more on 바카라사이트 domestic agenda and offer apparent developments on higher education policy in 바카라사이트 absence of post-18 review progress.

The review will not be published while 바카라사이트 government remains occupied by 바카라사이트 Brexit crisis, it is thought. A May publication date is expected by some, but it remains to be seen whe바카라사이트r that could be impacted by a delay in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s scheduled departure date from 바카라사이트 European Union.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, suggested that No 10 could be driving 바카라사이트 planned announcements, after ¡°beginning to realise¡± that 바카라사이트 post-18 review process will be ¡°a lot longer and slower and harder to implement¡± than it initially expected ¨C particularly after Labour, which wants to abolish fees,?said that it was likely?to vote against merely lowering fees.

Mr Hinds will be more minded ¡°to push Augar through¡±, in contrast to 바카라사이트 ¡°very sector-friendly¡± stance?of 바카라사이트 past few universities ministers, including?Mr Skidmore, Mr Hillman added.

However, 바카라사이트 education secretary??that higher tuition fees have not deterred disadvantaged young people from entering higher education ¨C seeming to take a supportive stance towards 바카라사이트 ?9,250 fee system.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com