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New OfS Director to be appointed: But no role for the Commissioner for Public Appointments

The position of head of the Office for Students (OfS) is pivotal in steering the future of post-18 education institutions in England. Late on Friday saw the announcement of the process to recruit a new CEO for the OfS.  This…

Back to the future seen through the eyes of students

One thing for certain is that university life was already miles distant from the experience of most of our political leaders. Now the pandemic has transformed it into something unrecognisable from anything seen in the past. Two events this week…

Are independent schools cheating or ‘gaming the system’? Season three, Episode one

The Sunday Times kicked off the new examinations season today with a further warning about independent schools ‘gaming’ the examination system. Their main target in ‘Private schools ‘gamed’ Covid rules to give their pupils more top A-levels’ was the astounding…

Predictions for universities in 2022: UPDATE. Student Loans and a failing government

UPDATE 28th January 2022 The predictions for 2022 made by TEFS at the start of this month are holding up for now. More news of student loan repayments emerged today by stealth. This follows a week of more revelations about…

Toxic culture at No10 exposed for what it is: Us versus Them

It is fair to say that everyone in the UK is aware of the ‘goings on’ at the heart of the government in No10. It would also be fair to assume we are all amazed about the revelations.  Three issues…

OfS consultations: Higher Education regulation by decimation

The latest three consultations from the Office for Students (OfS) emerged yesterday. It could be that they are in effect the main response to the Augar recommendations that has been long delayed. The impact will have a massive effect on…

Consultation, Consultation, Consultation: The OfS rides again

The Office for Students (OfS) closed its latest ‘Consultation on OfS strategy for 2022-25’ on Thursday. It is critically important for anyone interested in seeing the direction of travel in how our universities will be regulated.  The consultation took place…

Review of 2021: From Aristotle to Peppa Pig

Download a TEFS 2022 calendar here. By the end of 2020, most people were exhausted by lockdowns and economic misery.  Yet, the government in London entered 2021 recovering from their party hangovers and stumbled into the New Year. For the…

Merry Christmas and a safe and peaceful New Year

Wishing all those reading the posts and those supporting TEFS a good Christmas and hoping we can all have a safe and peaceful New Year. TEFS review of the year to follow in a few days As we enter another…

Early educational disadvantage: Aristotle was right

Earlier this week, a posting on the Higher Education Policy Institute website gave us an overview of the role that stereotyping plays in children as young as five in determining their career outcomes. It mainly cites a recent research publication…