Committees

The work of the Office for Students

Inquiry

The inquiry will scrutinise whether the statutory duties of the OfS are clear and examine its performance against those duties since its establishment. The inquiry will look at how the OfS’ regulatory framework has developed since its inception, its independence from and relationship with the Government, and whether it has the necessary expertise and resources to carry out its functions.

The inquiry will also examine the OfS’ work in relation to the financial sustainability of the higher education sector. This will include consideration of the extent of systemic financial risks in the sector, such as the reliance of some universities on overseas students, how the OfS considers and manages these risks, and the potential consequences of and processes for the failure of providers.

Read the key points in our enhanced report summary

This inquiry is no longer accepting evidence

The deadline for submissions was Wednesday 12 April 2023.

Reports, special reports and government responses

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2nd Report - Must do better: the Office for Students and the looming crisis facing higher education
Inquiry The work of the Office for Students
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HL Paper 246
Report
Response to this report
Government response to the Committee's report, Must do better the Office for Students and the looming crisis facing higher education, 27 November 2023
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Government Response
Response to this report
Office for Students' response to the Committee's report, Must do better: the Office for Students and the looming crisis facing higher education, 27 November 2023
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Correspondence

Oral evidence transcripts

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16 May 2023
Inquiry The work of the Office for Students
Witnesses Robert Halfon MP (Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships, and Higher Education at Department for Education), and Anne Spinali (Director of Higher Education Reform and Funding at Department for Education)
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Oral Evidence
9 May 2023
Inquiry The work of the Office for Students
Witnesses Susan Lapworth (Chief Executive at Office for Students), and Lord Wharton of Yarm (Chair at Office for Students)
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Oral Evidence
2 May 2023
Inquiry The work of the Office for Students
Witnesses Nicola Owen (Deputy Chief Executive (Operations) at Lancaster University, and Chair at Association of Heads of University Administration), and Erica Conway (Chief Financial Officer at University of Birmingham, and Chair at British Universities Finance Directors Group)
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Oral Evidence

Written evidence

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Department for Education (WOS0071)
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(WOS0070)
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Anonymised (WOS0067)
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Other publications

Government Responses
The Government has undertaken to respond to most committee reports within two months, although there are exceptions to this rule.
1 published
Correspondence
Committees exchange letters with government departments and others, often to request information or follow up on recommendations.
1 published

Contact us

  • Email: HLIndustryRegulators@parliament.uk
  • Phone: 020 7219 2785 (committee staff) | 020 7219 8659 (Press Officer)
  • Address: Industry and Regulators Committee, House of Lords, London SW1A 0PW