Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Accepted
Clarify definitions of student attendance and meaningful course engagement, publishing guidance swiftly.
Conclusion
Although SLC uses data on attendance to show student’s course engagement, and therefore pay loans, there remains no agreed definition of what constitutes attendance or engagement. SLC requires providers to confirm that students are attending their courses before it will make tuition fee and maintenance payments. However, DfE, SLC, OfS and providers have no commonly agreed definition of what constitutes student attendance or engagement, or how it should be evidenced. The NAO recommended that DfE should develop guidance for providers explaining what constitutes meaningful student engagement and how it expects providers to self-assure data. Higher education relies heavily on self-directed learning, and DfE recognises that attendance might mean different things, at different institutions or for different courses. Universities UK has nonetheless recognised the need to revisit the definition of attendance and engagement, and recommended DfE engage with the sector to take this forward. DfE accepts the need to develop guidance, and hopes this will be introduced before summer this year. Recommendation 6: DfE should work quickly to clarify what constitutes student attendance and meaningful engagement with courses, ensuring sufficient engagement with providers, and publish guidance as soon as possible. 8 Student loans issued to those studying at franchised higher education providers 1 Achieving student outcomes through franchised provision
Government Response Summary
The government published guidance on attendance management on the Student Loans Company website in May 2024, clarifying expectations for student attendance and engagement after extensive stakeholder engagement, and will take action if providers have weak approaches.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented The department published on the Student Loans Company website (May 2024) guidance on attendance management, against which providers can be held to account in relation to the release of SLC tuition fee payments. The department is engaging with the devolved governments to support consistency across administrations where possible. This guidance is the result of extensive engagement with the OfS, SLC and sector stakeholders. There has been wide support for this, with many stakeholders that the department has spoken to also helping communicate the guidance through their own channels of communication. There is an understanding and acceptance across the sector that providers should have in place published attendance and engagement policies, so that students understand the commitment expected of them and the respective process a provider follows if attendance expectations are not met. However, in any circumstance a provider does not have a published policy, the department expects that one will exist from the 2024-25 academic year. Attendance policies are important because attendance confirmations are a regulatory requirement of providers for the release of student funding. The guidance published acts as a reminder of this, as providers continue to operate their own arrangements to satisfy themselves that students are participating on their courses. The department will take action if there are concerns a provider has a weak approach to attendance management. This may include suspending funding payments to the provider until assurances are provided that any risk of misuse of funding has been mitigated.