Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans his Department has for increasing the role of private colleges in provision of further and higher education; and if he will make a statement.

In September 2014 the Department will invite both new and existing alternative providers to apply to have new courses designated so that their students may have access for student support in the 2015/16 academic year. There will also be an additional opportunity for providers to apply in February 2015. For the 2015/16 academic year we will allow student numbers at high quality alternative providers to be freed from student number controls in a similar manner as for HEFCE-funded provision, but we will continue to retain a control on numbers at higher risk provision.