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1010103

registered interest
date	19/11/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Universities: Admissions
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions the Department for Education is having with the Russell Group of universities regarding adding music to their list of facilitating subjects.
tabling member printed	Lord Black of Brentwood
uin	HL11550
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/12/2018 answer text <p>Universities are autonomous from government, and consequently control the criteria used to determine admissions. We are aware that the Russell Group, which comprises 24 of the UK’s leading universities, publishes guidance designed to assist applicants in identifying the A level subjects most likely to facilitate entry to one of their member universities. From engagement with the Russell Group, we understand they are currently reviewing their guidance. The department recognises the importance of arts subjects, including music, and students’ ability to make informed choices is at the heart of our recent reforms to higher education. We are increasing the information available to students to ensure they can make informed choices about what and where to study.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 03/12/2018 11:53:35 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4171 label Biography information for Lord Black of Brentwood

1008476

registered interest
date	16/11/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Universities: Admissions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to page 23 of the report of the Education Committee, Value for money in higher education, published on 5 November 2018, HC 343, what steps he is taking to increase the number of state school-educated students studying at Russell Group universities.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	192125
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2018 answer text <p>Widening participation to Higher Education is a priority for this government. The government wants everyone with the capability to succeed in Higher Education to have the opportunity to benefit from a university education, regardless of their background.</p><p>This year, record rates of English 18 year olds, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, have entered full-time university. However, more could and should be done. That is why in the department’s first guidance to the Office for Students, we asked them to encourage providers to make further progress in ensuring that students from: areas of low higher education participation; low household income; and/or low socio-economic status, can access, participate and succeed in higher education, including at the most selective institutions.</p><p>In addition, a new transparency condition requires higher education providers to publish application, offer, acceptance, non-continuation and attainment rates by socio-economic background, gender and ethnicity. This will provide greater transparency and help drive fairness on admissions and outcomes.</p><p>Prior attainment is a critical factor and the government have asked higher education providers to take on a more direct role in helping to raise attainment in schools as part of their outreach activity. All universities are expected to help raise attainment and support school improvement, including through school sponsorship and by establishing new state schools.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Mr Sam Gyimah question first answered 21/11/2018 16:19:38 answering member 3980 label Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1002134

registered interest
date	05/11/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Universities: Admissions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to support the 17 universities with a decline in student numbers of more than 10 per cent since 2012.
tabling member constituency	Blackpool South
tabling member printed	Gordon Marsden
uin	188033
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>​In the new higher education (HE) regulatory framework, the Office for Students (OfS) has responsibilities to monitor and assess the financial viability of registered providers. In this work, the OfS as regulator, rather than the department, takes into account the individual circumstances of each provider applying to be on the new register of publicly-funded providers. It will therefore have taken into account the financial viability and individual circumstances of the twelve English universities that have experienced a decline in student numbers of more than 10 per cent since 2012.</p><p> </p><p>We have also given the OfS powers to ensure that registered providers have plans in place to protect their students, via appropriately constructed student protection plans. Where the OfS identifies particular risks to a provider’s financial sustainability, the student protection plan may need to be strengthened in a tailored way before it can be agreed. The requirement by the OfS that all registered providers have a student protection plan means that for the first time in the higher education sector there will be a consistent sector-wide approach to student protection arrangements.</p><p> </p><p>It is the responsibility of Vice-Chancellors and HE provider leaders to ensure their institutions are financially viable. We will not prop up failing providers.</p><p> </p><p>​I meet regularly with the Chair and Chief Executive of the OfS to discuss the full range of issues relevant to the higher education sector. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State also has similar meetings.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Mr Sam Gyimah grouped question UIN 188035 188036 188037 question first answered 12/11/2018 15:19:43 answering member 3980 label Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah
tabling member	465 label Biography information for Gordon Marsden

1002185

registered interest
date	05/11/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Universities: Admissions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions (a) he and (b) the Minister responsible for higher education has had with the Office for Students on universities that have experienced a decline in student numbers of more than 10 per cent since 2012.
tabling member constituency	Blackpool South
tabling member printed	Gordon Marsden
uin	188037
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>​In the new higher education (HE) regulatory framework, the Office for Students (OfS) has responsibilities to monitor and assess the financial viability of registered providers. In this work, the OfS as regulator, rather than the department, takes into account the individual circumstances of each provider applying to be on the new register of publicly-funded providers. It will therefore have taken into account the financial viability and individual circumstances of the twelve English universities that have experienced a decline in student numbers of more than 10 per cent since 2012.</p><p> </p><p>We have also given the OfS powers to ensure that registered providers have plans in place to protect their students, via appropriately constructed student protection plans. Where the OfS identifies particular risks to a provider’s financial sustainability, the student protection plan may need to be strengthened in a tailored way before it can be agreed. The requirement by the OfS that all registered providers have a student protection plan means that for the first time in the higher education sector there will be a consistent sector-wide approach to student protection arrangements.</p><p> </p><p>It is the responsibility of Vice-Chancellors and HE provider leaders to ensure their institutions are financially viable. We will not prop up failing providers.</p><p> </p><p>​I meet regularly with the Chair and Chief Executive of the OfS to discuss the full range of issues relevant to the higher education sector. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State also has similar meetings.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Mr Sam Gyimah grouped question UIN 188033 188035 188036 question first answered 12/11/2018 15:19:43 answering member 3980 label Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah
tabling member	465 label Biography information for Gordon Marsden

999221

registered interest
date	31/10/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Universities: Admissions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to widen access to university for children who have been in care.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	186173
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2018 answer text <p>I want to ensure that all care leavers with the potential to benefit from higher education are encouraged to apply. Guidance issued by the Office for Students (OfS) to universities on completing access and participation plans identifies care leavers as a key target group whose needs their plans should address. Last week, we launched the Care Leaver Covenant, which will provide a way for organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors – including universities – to set out what support they provide to care leavers.</p><p>Universities are being asked to work with children in care and care leavers, to encourage them to apply and to provide them with additional support through the application process. A number of universities have already signed the covenant, including Leeds, Liverpool and Bradford; and we will continue to work closely with the OfS to encourage all universities to sign it.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Mr Sam Gyimah question first answered 05/11/2018 16:51:54 answering member 3980 label Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

971601

registered interest
date	11/09/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Universities: Admissions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect on A-Level grade attainment of the increase in the number of students receiving unconditional offers from universities; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	173511
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2018 answer text <p>I am concerned about the increase in unconditional offers and any adverse impact they may be having on students’ A level grades. That is why I’m looking closely at the practice and have asked the regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), to review the practice, and in particular, to assess the impact it might be having on attainment. If negative impacts on students are highlighted through this review, I will expect the OfS to take robust action, in accordance with its powers set out in legislation.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Mr Sam Gyimah grouped question UIN 173512 question first answered 09/10/2018 15:56:51 answering member 3980 label Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

971602

registered interest
date	11/09/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Universities: Admissions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with universities on the use of unconditional offers for undergraduate places.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	173512
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2018 answer text <p>I am concerned about the increase in unconditional offers and any adverse impact they may be having on students’ A level grades. That is why I’m looking closely at the practice and have asked the regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), to review the practice, and in particular, to assess the impact it might be having on attainment. If negative impacts on students are highlighted through this review, I will expect the OfS to take robust action, in accordance with its powers set out in legislation.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Mr Sam Gyimah grouped question UIN 173511 question first answered 09/10/2018 15:56:51 answering member 3980 label Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

946973

registered interest
date	23/07/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Universities: Admissions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many additional university places have been created at (a) Russell Group and (b) non-Russell Group universities since the lifting of the cap on undergraduate numbers.
tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
tabling member printed	Royston Smith
uin	167319
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/09/2018 answer text <p>In 2013, the government announced that the student number controls at publicly-funded higher education institutions in England would be removed by 2015/16. This was preceded by a relaxation of student number controls for AAB students, who were made exempt from 2012/13, and ABB students, who were exempt from 2013/14.</p><p>Student number controls applied to full-time undergraduate students at English higher education institutions who were domiciled in the UK or European Union prior to study.</p><p>The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes statistics on students enrolled in higher education institutions in England. Time series for UK and EU domiciled full-time undergraduate entrants at Russell Group and non-Russell Group higher education institutions in England have been provided in the table below.</p><p><strong>UK and EU domiciled full-time undergraduate entrants by provider group</strong></p><p><strong>English Higher Education Institutions</strong></p><p><strong>Academic years 2013/14 to 2016/17</strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>2013/14</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014/15</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2015/16</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016/17</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Russell Group</strong></p></td><td><p>79,135</p></td><td><p>82,075</p></td><td><p>87,145</p></td><td><p>89,415</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Non-Russell Group</strong></p></td><td><p>283,775</p></td><td><p>291,875</p></td><td><p>300,465</p></td><td><p>306,070</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p>362,910</p></td><td><p>373,950</p></td><td><p>387,610</p></td><td><p>395,485</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><em>Source: HESA Student Record 2013/14 to 2016/17</em></p><p><em>Note:</em></p><p><em>(1) Figures in this table are rounded to the nearest multiple of five.</em></p><p><em>(2) Entrants refers to first year students.</em></p><p>The number of entrants is affected by the decisions taken by higher education institutions and applicants to these institutions; as such, this is likely to differ from the number of places available.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Mr Sam Gyimah question first answered 04/09/2018 10:22:49 answering member 3980 label Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah
tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith

918592

registered interest
date	06/06/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Universities: Admissions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with universities and their representative bodies on extending their outreach activities for disadvantaged groups of young people between the ages of 11 and 16.
tabling member constituency	Blackpool South
tabling member printed	Gordon Marsden
uin	150573
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2018 answer text <p>This government is committed to widening participation to higher education for students from disadvantaged and under-represented groups. We want everyone with the potential to have the opportunity to benefit from a university education, regardless of background or where they grew up.</p><p>In our first guidance to the Office for Students (OfS) we have asked them to challenge higher education (HE) providers to drive more progress through their Access and Participation Plans. Prior attainment is a critical factor in entering higher education and we are asking providers to take on a more direct role in raising attainment in schools as part of their outreach activity. The OfS have also established the National Collaborative Outreach Programme to target areas where progression into higher education is low overall and lower than expected given typical GCSE attainment rates.</p><p> </p><p>Through the Higher Education and Research Act, we have introduced a Transparency Duty requiring higher education providers to publish data on application, offer, acceptance, dropout and attainment rates of students by ethnicity, gender and socio-economic background. This will hold the sector to account for their record on access and retention of students from lower socio-economic backgrounds and shine a light on where they need to go further.</p><p>Officials and I are in regular contact with the OfS, including the Director for Fair Access and Participation, and the higher education sector to discuss issues around widening access.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Mr Sam Gyimah grouped question UIN 150575 question first answered 11/06/2018 16:48:48 answering member 3980 label Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah
tabling member	465 label Biography information for Gordon Marsden

918594

registered interest
date	06/06/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Universities: Admissions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with (a) the Director for Fair Access and Participation and (b) the Office for Students on strengthening university programmes aimed at potential applicants between the ages of 11 and 16 from disadvantaged black, working-class white and other communities.
tabling member constituency	Blackpool South
tabling member printed	Gordon Marsden
uin	150575
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2018 answer text <p>This government is committed to widening participation to higher education for students from disadvantaged and under-represented groups. We want everyone with the potential to have the opportunity to benefit from a university education, regardless of background or where they grew up.</p><p>In our first guidance to the Office for Students (OfS) we have asked them to challenge higher education (HE) providers to drive more progress through their Access and Participation Plans. Prior attainment is a critical factor in entering higher education and we are asking providers to take on a more direct role in raising attainment in schools as part of their outreach activity. The OfS have also established the National Collaborative Outreach Programme to target areas where progression into higher education is low overall and lower than expected given typical GCSE attainment rates.</p><p> </p><p>Through the Higher Education and Research Act, we have introduced a Transparency Duty requiring higher education providers to publish data on application, offer, acceptance, dropout and attainment rates of students by ethnicity, gender and socio-economic background. This will hold the sector to account for their record on access and retention of students from lower socio-economic backgrounds and shine a light on where they need to go further.</p><p>Officials and I are in regular contact with the OfS, including the Director for Fair Access and Participation, and the higher education sector to discuss issues around widening access.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Mr Sam Gyimah grouped question UIN 150573 question first answered 11/06/2018 16:48:48 answering member 3980 label Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah
tabling member	465 label Biography information for Gordon Marsden