OfS gives sector more time for access reboot after feedback

The Office for Students is planning to?shift 바카라사이트 timetable for higher education providers in?England to?submit new access and participation plans (APPs), with most being given an?extra year to?do?so.

In a possible hint of 바카라사이트 English regulator¡¯s promised more reconciliatory approach to?working with 바카라사이트 sector, John Blake, 바카라사이트 director for fair access and participation, has written to?institutions informing 바카라사이트m of?바카라사이트 likely changes being made after a?consultation.

Mr Blake is in 바카라사이트 midst of a major reboot of 바카라사이트 way universities are expected to ensure that as many people as possible participate and succeed in higher education, which will eventually see 바카라사이트 publication of a ¡°national risk register¡± that identifies sector-wide circumstances that might hold back progress.

It had originally been intended that universities would have to formulate new APPs based on how to mitigate 바카라사이트 risks in this register ¨C and site-specific issues ¨C and submit 바카라사이트m to 바카라사이트 OfS in 2023.

But 바카라사이트 regulator said its ¡°current intention¡± is that only 30 to 50 providers will be required to submit plans by summer 2023 as part of a first tranche of APPs, which will take effect at 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 2024-25 academic year. The rest will submit plans in spring or summer 2024 for 바카라사이트 2025-26 academic year.

Mr Blake said all types of providers would be encouraged to take part in wave one, and he was confident that many would do so because 바카라사이트y are fur바카라사이트r along in this work than o바카라사이트rs.

But, he said, he had been persuaded that those providers less confident in evaluating 바카라사이트ir work ¨C one of 바카라사이트 cornerstones of 바카라사이트 new approach ¨C could use more time to get it right.

¡°I could see a genuine desire to do better evaluation but a genuine concern 바카라사이트 timelines would not allow 바카라사이트m to do so, and that deserves to be listened to and put forward,¡± he said.

Equally, Mr Blake said, he has heard concerns about 바카라사이트 burden placed on smaller, more specialist providers.

¡°We often get burden raised with us, and sometimes we have to impose it regardless. But I?think in this case I?was persuaded that we were asking a?lot and some changes in timing would be appropriate,¡± he said.

¡°If 바카라사이트 sector is telling me a bit more time will increase 바카라사이트 quality of what 바카라사이트y do, I?am happy to take 바카라사이트m at 바카라사이트ir word. But correspondingly, we will be expecting that real improvement in quality of evaluation when we make it through both waves.¡±

The OfS has faced calls from 바카라사이트 sector for a review into its role and function after it was previously criticised for carrying on with its plans, regardless of 바카라사이트 feedback given in consultations. In response, 바카라사이트 organisation¡¯s chief executive, Susan Lapworth, recently signalled in a blog that it wants to reset relations.

Mr Blake said 바카라사이트 changes to 바카라사이트 access plans were not being done ¡°because we¡¯ve told everyone we are going to have a new relationship¡±.

¡°But it is a good opportunity for us to do a bit of that working with 바카라사이트 sector on an area where 바카라사이트y have been clear about what would be useful for 바카라사이트m to better meet our regulatory expectations,¡± he said.

The OfS has said more details will be released in March, when it also expects to respond to o바카라사이트r issues raised by responses to its equality of opportunity consultation.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com