Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the regulatory framework for higher education in England at ensuring that there is adequate monitoring of (a) completion, (b) continuation and (c) progression rates.

The Office for Students’ (OfS) approach to regulation is underpinned by the functions, duties and powers given to it in the Higher Education and Research Act 2017. This risk-based approach focuses regulatory attention on providers that are at greatest risk of breaching their conditions of registration.

The OfS sets minimum thresholds for three student outcome metrics, course continuation, course completion, and progression to graduate employment or further study.

Following extensive consultation, the OfS announced new minimum thresholds for student outcomes in October 2022. It has since undertaken 18 investigations into compliance with student outcomes requirements, the outcomes of which are due to be published in due course.

The department will review the outcome reports with interest to understand the regulatory decisions the OfS has made, and what action is being taken in response. The department has confidence in the OfS to ensure that all students benefit from high quality, world-leading higher education that leads to excellent outcomes.