Speculation is rife that the government’s preferred candidate for the post of director of fair access – Les Ebdon – has been blocked from the role by Conservative MPs after a delay in the announcement over the appointment.
The potential takeover of a private higher education college that has degree-awarding powers has entered a crucial stage with education giant Pearson reportedly the frontrunner.
Further education colleges are set to receive more student places from the price-based “margin” than universities after the initial allocations were revealed by the government.
Les Ebdon has used his first appearance before MPs as the government’s preferred choice for the post of director of fair access to lay down the gauntlet to highly-selective universities with “patchy” records on access.
The head of the Student Loans Company is reported to be being paid through a private firm rather than directly, a mechanism that can be used to reduce income tax liability.
Universities in England will receive an extra £40 million to help fund taught postgraduate students next year but will lose around £30 million due to institutions admitting too many undergraduates last autumn.
