Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the support available for disabled students is included in the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework.

The Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF) recognises and rewards high quality teaching in higher education. Its purpose is to give all students clear information about where teaching quality is best, and to hold higher education providers to account for the quality of their teaching, learning environment and student outcomes. The TEF recognises the needs of all students, including students with disabilities, for high quality teaching and outcomes.

The TEF metrics used in the assessment process are benchmarked to take account of the entry qualifications and characteristics of students, and the subjects studied at each university or college. These benchmarks include disability. The TEF assessment is therefore based on what each college or university achieves for its particular students. The contextual information provided to assessors to help them interpret the metrics for a provider includes information about disabled students at that institution.

Higher education providers, in the submissions that support their assessments, can also highlight aspects of their provision, which might include support for their students with specific needs. Assessors will consider the whole range of factors before arriving at a final TEF rating.