Mike Ratcliffe
@mike-rat.bsky.social
Student and university administrator
https://moremeansbetter.wordpress.com
https://moremeansbetter.wordpress.com
A year ago I wondered whether universities should include far more information about franchises in their financial statements. OfS will require this, but from next year. I wonder what the accounts will say this year?
moremeansbetter.wordpress.com/2024/12/02/f...
moremeansbetter.wordpress.com/2024/12/02/f...
Financial Statements Season – Franchise Special
It’s financial statements season. As everyone focuses on deficits and VC pay, I argue that more should be done to explain how the finances of franchises are working in annual reports.
moremeansbetter.wordpress.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:00 AM
A year ago I wondered whether universities should include far more information about franchises in their financial statements. OfS will require this, but from next year. I wonder what the accounts will say this year?
moremeansbetter.wordpress.com/2024/12/02/f...
moremeansbetter.wordpress.com/2024/12/02/f...
One of my presumptions when reading old regulations is that each addition represents a new problem being dealt with.
So, here are new paragraphs in the OfS Procedures for investigating allegations in the NSS where it may flag other regulatory concerns.
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications...
So, here are new paragraphs in the OfS Procedures for investigating allegations in the NSS where it may flag other regulatory concerns.
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications...
![Process for managing concerns
38. The OfS will aim to provide an initial response to the concern within five working days of receipt [Annex A, Box 1]. The OfS will liaise with the relevant UK funding and regulatory body, if appropriate, in providing this response.
39. At this stage, for concerns relating to English higher education providers, the OfS will work to determine if there are any wider regulatory concerns relating to the provider in question and therefore might affect the investigation of a concern. The same approach would apply to concerns relating to the other UK funding and regulatory bodies.
40. For these concerns, it may be necessary that the case is taken forward by other regulatory teams within the OfS, or where relevant the other UK funding and regulatory bodies, as part of wider risk assessments and investigations. With this route, the senior member of the NSS team may be asked to seek further information or evidence to support the allegation to aid the investigation.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:r4v6tnsb2hti5frjgkocsgal/bafkreigcckvokwmfschwgmcd3w7cj2g24ftxnjy4ea6bk2loxv5rl6kopa@jpeg)
November 28, 2025 at 2:00 PM
One of my presumptions when reading old regulations is that each addition represents a new problem being dealt with.
So, here are new paragraphs in the OfS Procedures for investigating allegations in the NSS where it may flag other regulatory concerns.
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications...
So, here are new paragraphs in the OfS Procedures for investigating allegations in the NSS where it may flag other regulatory concerns.
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications...
A question for how HE works with devolution, is what is your local authority? The current question here is whether Swindon is in the Thames Valley. When this is resolved, the authority’s flagship university should promptly be renamed to match.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Council devolution: Swindon divides opinion in the Thames Valley?
Oxfordshire and Berkshire are asking government for devolved powers, but will that include Swindon?
www.bbc.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 9:06 AM
A question for how HE works with devolution, is what is your local authority? The current question here is whether Swindon is in the Thames Valley. When this is resolved, the authority’s flagship university should promptly be renamed to match.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
OfS Degree Awarding Powers news. A new order for Blackpool & the Flyde College which comes into force on 12 December 2025 which is the day their 2022 (amendment) order expires. This order, for taught awards up to and including bachelor’s level, expires on 11 December 2028.
November 27, 2025 at 5:03 PM
OfS Degree Awarding Powers news. A new order for Blackpool & the Flyde College which comes into force on 12 December 2025 which is the day their 2022 (amendment) order expires. This order, for taught awards up to and including bachelor’s level, expires on 11 December 2028.
I understand the need to not vehemently object to the levy. I walked past two providers on the Marylebone Road yesterday wondering how a flat fee would pan out. One has an 11 month MBA with a £77950 fee, the other £19500 for 12 months. Each pays the same £925 levy (if OfS only counts them once)
Stop fee levy hostility despite £300 million hit, vice-chancellors told. Helen Packer reports
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/stop-fee-levy-hostility-despite-ps300-million-hit-v-cs-told
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/stop-fee-levy-hostility-despite-ps300-million-hit-v-cs-told
November 27, 2025 at 8:42 AM
I understand the need to not vehemently object to the levy. I walked past two providers on the Marylebone Road yesterday wondering how a flat fee would pan out. One has an 11 month MBA with a £77950 fee, the other £19500 for 12 months. Each pays the same £925 levy (if OfS only counts them once)
Key focus at IHE conference this afternoon on the way HE contributes to regions. This needs to reflect the diversity of providers (without resorting to hierarchy). International students play an important part in all this - a challenge today.
November 26, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Key focus at IHE conference this afternoon on the way HE contributes to regions. This needs to reflect the diversity of providers (without resorting to hierarchy). International students play an important part in all this - a challenge today.
It says here: “The international student levy will require providers to pay a flat fee of £925 per international student per year. It will be collected by the Office for Students”
www.gov.uk/government/c...
www.gov.uk/government/c...
International student levy technical detail
We are seeking views on the technical detail of the international student levy, to ensure its effective introduction and delivery.
www.gov.uk
November 26, 2025 at 2:00 PM
It says here: “The international student levy will require providers to pay a flat fee of £925 per international student per year. It will be collected by the Office for Students”
www.gov.uk/government/c...
www.gov.uk/government/c...
Edward Peck being very clear that OfS regulation needs to address the issues of franchising at the IHE conference. Concerns about throwing out the baby with the bath water have to address there was a lot of bath water and some of it was very murky.
November 26, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Edward Peck being very clear that OfS regulation needs to address the issues of franchising at the IHE conference. Concerns about throwing out the baby with the bath water have to address there was a lot of bath water and some of it was very murky.
Skills are fundamental to the growth and opportunity missions of government says Jacqui Smith. The IHE conference is looking at the strategic partnership between the wider HE sector and government to deliver the positive vision of the Post-16 education and skills white paper.
November 26, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Skills are fundamental to the growth and opportunity missions of government says Jacqui Smith. The IHE conference is looking at the strategic partnership between the wider HE sector and government to deliver the positive vision of the Post-16 education and skills white paper.
There are lots of opportunities for UK HE. @viviennestern.bsky.social talking to the HESPA conference, starts with a triangle of sadness from @andywestwood.bsky.social but builds to list all the things the new policy landscape offers for the sector to contribute to.
November 25, 2025 at 10:12 AM
There are lots of opportunities for UK HE. @viviennestern.bsky.social talking to the HESPA conference, starts with a triangle of sadness from @andywestwood.bsky.social but builds to list all the things the new policy landscape offers for the sector to contribute to.
Students sleeping out overnight in Oxford. Just to be at the front of the queue to get the pick of next year’s houses from one estate agent. A piece of craziness that the new renters reform act probably fails to curtail (but maybe move it to warmer months?)
November 24, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Students sleeping out overnight in Oxford. Just to be at the front of the queue to get the pick of next year’s houses from one estate agent. A piece of craziness that the new renters reform act probably fails to curtail (but maybe move it to warmer months?)
The spoof Ladybird books have found their way into secondhand bookshops alongside the real thing. I’m not sure about the Student one (sometimes you can be too snarky) but it reveals that there was a depiction of a Birmingham honorary degree in the original series (Marie Skłodowska Curie)
November 23, 2025 at 5:13 PM
The spoof Ladybird books have found their way into secondhand bookshops alongside the real thing. I’m not sure about the Student one (sometimes you can be too snarky) but it reveals that there was a depiction of a Birmingham honorary degree in the original series (Marie Skłodowska Curie)
There’s probably a bit of a lag between the announcement of TEDI-London becoming ASU London and the OfS register. It’s an interesting issue as whether the ‘U’ in ASU is a test of the use of ‘university’ in a provider name.
November 20, 2025 at 2:34 PM
There’s probably a bit of a lag between the announcement of TEDI-London becoming ASU London and the OfS register. It’s an interesting issue as whether the ‘U’ in ASU is a test of the use of ‘university’ in a provider name.
There’s a major conflict between collaboration and competition in the #HETransformation space. Key document from OfS today underlines that some providers are already out there eating other people’s lunch (in terms of recruiting students)
November 20, 2025 at 1:14 PM
There’s a major conflict between collaboration and competition in the #HETransformation space. Key document from OfS today underlines that some providers are already out there eating other people’s lunch (in terms of recruiting students)
OfS degree awarding powers news. SP Jain London School of Management has a new DAPs order extending the time limit of their powers - had been to 30 November 2026, now extended to 30 August 2027.
This order does not use a unique identifier for the provider (which has a companies house number).
This order does not use a unique identifier for the provider (which has a companies house number).
November 19, 2025 at 10:53 AM
OfS degree awarding powers news. SP Jain London School of Management has a new DAPs order extending the time limit of their powers - had been to 30 November 2026, now extended to 30 August 2027.
This order does not use a unique identifier for the provider (which has a companies house number).
This order does not use a unique identifier for the provider (which has a companies house number).
Protests in Oxford today (among the Christmas shoppers). The biggest was for refugees welcome (with a tiny counter protest) with a pro-Palestine event outside the Oxford Union.
November 16, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Protests in Oxford today (among the Christmas shoppers). The biggest was for refugees welcome (with a tiny counter protest) with a pro-Palestine event outside the Oxford Union.
Plans for development at the end of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc - with Sovereign High-Performance Compute (HPC) infrastructure with research facilities. Next to Parkway Station, the plans include a new FE college. Cooling the supercomputer will heat other buildings.
www.exoq.co.uk
www.exoq.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Plans for development at the end of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc - with Sovereign High-Performance Compute (HPC) infrastructure with research facilities. Next to Parkway Station, the plans include a new FE college. Cooling the supercomputer will heat other buildings.
www.exoq.co.uk
www.exoq.co.uk
It’s ten whole years since Government committed to remove barriers to new entrants as providers and to have a risk-based framework.
There are students paying back loans for courses they were unable to complete because their colleges were (at best) negligent.
wonkhe.com/blogs/studen...
There are students paying back loans for courses they were unable to complete because their colleges were (at best) negligent.
wonkhe.com/blogs/studen...
Student protection is needed in all higher-level learning
For Charlotte Corrish, the government’s new ambitions for higher-level participation must be accompanied by all students having access to the same safeguards For Charlotte Corrish, the government’s ne...
wonkhe.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:20 AM
It’s ten whole years since Government committed to remove barriers to new entrants as providers and to have a risk-based framework.
There are students paying back loans for courses they were unable to complete because their colleges were (at best) negligent.
wonkhe.com/blogs/studen...
There are students paying back loans for courses they were unable to complete because their colleges were (at best) negligent.
wonkhe.com/blogs/studen...
Sites of former HEIs: a series. Grafton College was in Ilford House, Oxford Street. It ran an HND in business and had a BA validated, but allegations were made by #Panorama. It’s worth reading the QAA cause for concern report for similarities to cases 8 years on.
www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/rep...
www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/rep...
November 12, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Sites of former HEIs: a series. Grafton College was in Ilford House, Oxford Street. It ran an HND in business and had a BA validated, but allegations were made by #Panorama. It’s worth reading the QAA cause for concern report for similarities to cases 8 years on.
www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/rep...
www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/rep...
From the first minute to the last, the @wonkhe.bsky.social festival of higher education has been a fabulous event. So much thought and engagement about HE today and tomorrow; our challenges and opportunities.
November 12, 2025 at 3:40 PM
From the first minute to the last, the @wonkhe.bsky.social festival of higher education has been a fabulous event. So much thought and engagement about HE today and tomorrow; our challenges and opportunities.
Sites of former HEIs: a series. The College of Distributive Trades - from an era when local government planned specialist tertiary education. Purpose built accommodation with reliefs of the historic trades. Lots of mergers means this is now part of LCC in UAL. Building is now Foyles.
November 11, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Sites of former HEIs: a series. The College of Distributive Trades - from an era when local government planned specialist tertiary education. Purpose built accommodation with reliefs of the historic trades. Lots of mergers means this is now part of LCC in UAL. Building is now Foyles.
Looking forward to the Festival of Higher Education next week - there’s so much happening in HE policy just now.
In a corner, I will be provoking people on one of the most divisive issues: would student number caps be a good thing?
In a corner, I will be provoking people on one of the most divisive issues: would student number caps be a good thing?
November 7, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Looking forward to the Festival of Higher Education next week - there’s so much happening in HE policy just now.
In a corner, I will be provoking people on one of the most divisive issues: would student number caps be a good thing?
In a corner, I will be provoking people on one of the most divisive issues: would student number caps be a good thing?
This confirms that Kent will join the Greenwich higher education corporation in the merger. Consultation on changing Greenwich’s legal name to London & South East (still sounds like a train company to me).
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications...
Proposed new legal name for the University of Greenwich - Office for Students
We are consulting on a proposed new legal name for the University of Greenwich.
www.officeforstudents.org.uk
November 6, 2025 at 8:13 AM
This confirms that Kent will join the Greenwich higher education corporation in the merger. Consultation on changing Greenwich’s legal name to London & South East (still sounds like a train company to me).
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications...
Can you buy degree awarding powers? When Spurgeon’s College ceased trading, they had interest in acquiring their newly extended DAPs. In this case it was agreed that you couldn’t just buy the DAPs - potentially a very sensible precedent.
moremeansbetter.wordpress.com/2025/11/05/w...
moremeansbetter.wordpress.com/2025/11/05/w...
Who will buy these wonderful Degree Awarding Powers?
There’s a market for UK degree awarding powers. Someone made Buckingham an offer they could refuse and when Spurgeon’s College went bust people made them offers. What’s going on?
moremeansbetter.wordpress.com
November 5, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Can you buy degree awarding powers? When Spurgeon’s College ceased trading, they had interest in acquiring their newly extended DAPs. In this case it was agreed that you couldn’t just buy the DAPs - potentially a very sensible precedent.
moremeansbetter.wordpress.com/2025/11/05/w...
moremeansbetter.wordpress.com/2025/11/05/w...
Important provocation on the need for a whole university approach for supporting students. This can’t just be delegated to ‘student services’ but must be designed in across the whole academic experience. We need inclusive teaching and assessment, rather than reactive support. #ARC2025
November 4, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Important provocation on the need for a whole university approach for supporting students. This can’t just be delegated to ‘student services’ but must be designed in across the whole academic experience. We need inclusive teaching and assessment, rather than reactive support. #ARC2025