---

Dept for Education and Skills

Answer

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what plans he has to review the benchmarks for university admissions based on (a) state schools and (b) socio-economic status; and if he will make a statement; [192930] (2) what plans the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has for additional benchmarks for universities; what consultations HEFCE carries out in respect of benchmarks; and whether he expects the Director General of the Office of Fair Access to be included in such consultations. [193568] Dr. Howells: The Performance Indicators Steering Group (PISG) is the body which approves the content and methodology of the Performance Indicators (PIs) and associated benchmarks. The PISG is chaired by HEFCE (The Higher Education Funding Council for England), and includes representatives from Universities UK, the Standing Conference of Principals, and HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency). Individual Higher Education Institutions are notified of their provisional PIs well before publication and are able to comment and take up any issues with the HESA, and/or the HEFCE prior to publication. Suggestions for new PIs can come from a variety of sources and are considered by the PISG for approval. The White Paper "The Future of Higher Education" said that the Government favoured moving towards more sensitive indicators and I am in discussion with HEFCE about how best to do this. I am also looking at the benchmarks to see if there is any way they can be improved or better understood. There are no plans to consult with the Director of OFFA in relation to performance indicators or benchmarks.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

426 c290-1W; 192930;193568

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Access Admissions Higher education Higher Education Funding Council for England Standards Universities Office for Fair Access

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk