Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 19
19
Accepted
Current lack of clear guidance on student attendance for loan payments is unsatisfactory.
Recommendation
We asked why, considering that student loan payments are made based on attendance data, there is no guidance on what constitutes attendance.45 DfE noted that ‘effective’ course attendance and engagement will vary by course and institution. DfE pointed to, for example, Open University students for whom there would be very different expectations. Different courses will have different requirements that suit different students in, for example, the extent to which they need to be physically present or how frequently they must submit work. DfE nonetheless agreed that the current situation is unsatisfactory.46 It told us that it had been discussing with the higher education sector a draft definition for attendance and engagement, which took a balanced and proportionate approach. It expects to publish this before summer.47 Universities UK recommended DfE engage with the sector to understand where there might be gaps in current approaches and further guidance may be necessary.48 Clarity over responsibilities relating to potential fraud and abuse
Government Response Summary
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.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 6.2 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. 6.3 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. 6.4 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. 6.5 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. 6.6 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.