Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how they plan to ensure that students being taught by franchise providers are getting a high quality education.

The government published its response to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report into student loans issued to those studying at franchised higher education providers on 5 September 2024. This is attached and can also be viewed here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66d9d2bfe87ad2f12182650e/E03194725_HMT_Treasury_Minutes_Sept_24_Accessible.pdf. The response sets out that the department intends to consult by January 2025 on proposals to strengthen oversight of partnership delivery in higher education.

The government is working closely with the Office for Students (OfS) to ensure that students studying at franchise providers are receiving good quality education. In November 2023, the OfS published its criteria for assessing providers in 2023/24 in relation to student outcomes, which included a focus on franchise arrangements. The OfS is now progressing investigations into franchise partnerships where it has concerns.

The department has been clear that responsibility for good quality provision in franchised partnerships should be led by the sector. In July 2024, Universities UK published a governance framework, with the aim of supporting universities to improve governance of franchised partnerships and mitigating risks so that these partnerships deliver for students.