Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure that the proposed Office for Students prioritises the promotion of part-time and lifelong learning.

The Government believes part-time education and adult education bring enormous benefits to individuals, the economy and employers. In our recent guidance to the Director of Fair Access, we asked the Director to provide a renewed focus on part-time study because of the contribution this makes to widening participation, recognising that the traditional three-year degree does not suit some learners and may discourage their participation.

The new Office for Students (OfS), as proposed in the Higher Education and Research Bill, will promote student choice, and by allowing new providers into the system, prospective students can expect greater part-time and distance learning opportunities, including for mature learners. For example, we know that in 2014/15, 56 per cent of students attending new providers designated for Student Loans Company support were over the age of 25, compared to 23 per cent at traditional higher education providers.

The Higher Education and Research Bill also places a general duty on the OfS to have regard to the need to promote choice and opportunity for students. This duty is broad and intended to ensure that the OfS looks across the whole range of different modes of study and student needs, including part-time study and life-long learning.

The reforms proposed by the Higher Education and Research Bill complement the practical support government is already giving to part-time students, which includes providing tuition fee loans and relaxing the rules on funding second degrees. We are also consulting on providing, for the first time ever, part-time maintenance loans.