Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Office for Students

26 April 2023 · 5 other contributors · 9,755 words

Opened by Emma Hardy Lab Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice

Responding minister: Robert Halfon

Education

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Emma Hardy raised concerns about office for students in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • The Office for Students is criticized for being overly bureaucratic and imposing high costs on educational providers.
  • The cost of regulation per student in smaller institutions is reported to be 289, compared to 14 in larger institutions.
  • Concerns are raised about the Office for Students' focus on government oversight rather than student needs.

Key requests to Government

Will steps be taken to reduce regulatory burden and costs? Will the higher education data reduction taskforce reconvened to assess data burdens across regulators? Does the OfS provide value for money with fee increases of 13%? Will provisions be made specifically for smaller institutions by being less rigid in data requirements, reforming its fee structure, and improving communication?

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Emma Hardy Lab Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice

The Office for Students has become overly bureaucratic and imposes high costs on providers, taking an inconsistent view of quality education. It is perceived to be more concerned with extending its oversight to meet government desires rather than student needs. The cost of regulation per student in smaller institutions is £289 compared to £14 in large institutions due to regulatory overlap and the complexity of processes. There are regular complaints about overly legalistic language, delays, short consultation periods, and a lack of transparency. The OfS's approach risks undermining data quality and financial sustainability for providers. Concerns also arise from the QAA's withdrawal as the designated quality body, leading questions about conflicts of interest.

Other contributors (5)
  • James Cartlidge Con South Suffolk

    The speaker intervened briefly, questioning the assertion that the OfS has become too bureaucratic and emphasizing the importance of regulation to maintain high standards in higher education.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Jim Shannon praised the Office for Students and highlighted the importance of higher education in Northern Ireland, where 77.8% of school pupils go on to study at some form of higher education setting. He emphasised the need for support to reduce drop-out rates among undergraduate students, which stand at around 40% annually according to the Education Data Initiative.

  • Matt Western Lab Warwick and Leamington

    Stressed the importance of fair-minded, proportional regulation for the higher education sector. Highlighted concerns about the Office for Students' lack of independence and its excessive regulatory burden on institutions. Raised issues regarding the student panel's perceived political influence and the need for risk-based regulation to be more proportionate. Asks if the Minister can address his previous questions about political interference, registration fees increase, and an assessment of value for money provided by the OfS.

  • Paul Blomfield Lab Sheffield Central

    My hon. Friend made an important point about the QAA no longer providing its role, questioning why this is happening when student voice is a critical part of the regulatory framework. I agree with Jim Shannon that the Minister is respected for his work on education. However, I raise concerns about the Office for Students' regulatory approach, arguing it should give a stronger voice to students and not marginalise them.

  • Rachael Maskell Lab York Central

    The speaker expressed concerns about the OfS's approach to regulation, emphasizing the need for it to be aligned with student priorities. The speaker highlighted issues such as the exclusion of students from review teams and the impact on degree apprenticeships.

Government Response

Robert Halfon

It is an honour to serve under your chairship, Dame Maria. I congratulate the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle on securing this debate. Robert Halfon outlined his views on higher education, emphasising its roles in meeting skills needs of the economy, providing high-quality qualifications leading to well-paid jobs, and advancing social justice. The Government has an ambitious skills agenda with £3.8 billion of extra investment over the Parliament for both higher education (HE) and further education, including an additional £750 million in the HE sector up to 2025. Regarding the Office for Students (OfS), Halfon commended its efforts but acknowledged the need to minimise regulatory burdens, particularly for small providers. He mentioned that OfS fees are tiered by student numbers, with FE colleges paying less in fees. The Minister highlighted ongoing work on mental health support and degree apprenticeships, noting plans to increase funding from £8 million to £40 million over two years. Halfon stressed the importance of robust regulation while supporting social justice and quality education outcomes.

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