Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many candidates were (a) considered, (b) shortlisted and (c) interviewed for positions on the board of the Office for Students; and if she will make a statement.

Two parallel open recruitment campaigns were held in the second half of 2017; one for Office for Students board members, and a second specifically for a student experience board member. The campaigns generated 221 applications for the non-executive board member positions and 133 applications for the Student Experience representative. Some applicants responded to both campaigns.

17 candidates were shortlisted across the two campaigns and of those, 16 were subsequently interviewed, with one candidate choosing to withdraw.

My Rt hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation responded to questions in the House of Commons on this subject on 8 January 2018.