Guidance

Independent review of the Office for Students: review process

Published 14 December 2023

Applies to England

Introduction

The government is committed to ensuring that public bodies:

• are a necessity
• provide greater accountability
• reduce the burden of the taxpayer
• follow a culture of efficiency and transparency

The government launched the Public Bodies Review Programme to ensure every pound of taxpayers’ money delivers the best possible outcomes for citizens. As part of this programme, the Office for Students (OfS) has been selected for review by DfE.

The Office for Students

The OfS is the independent public body responsible for regulating higher education providers in England. It was established in 2018 as a result of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017. Its stated aim is to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers. 

Scope of the review

The review will focus on how the OfS meets the requirements set out in the guidance for the Public Bodies Review Programme in 4 quadrants:

• efficacy
• governance
• accountability
• efficiency

Further detail on the objectives and areas that the review will cover are in the terms of reference.

The review process

Sir David Behan has been appointed to lead the review with support from DfE officials.

He will be responsible for ensuring a proportionate, rigorous and fair review that offers recommendations to facilitate continuous improvement.

To assist Sir David in his role, a challenge panel will be established. The panel’s role will be to hear from the lead reviewer, understand the evidence base and challenge emerging thoughts and recommendations in a rigorous and constructive manner.

A series of stakeholder engagements will be held to gather evidence to aid this review. This engagement will likely take the form of roundtables, interviews, and online evidence gathering from other relevant parties.

Further details on the challenge panel and the stakeholder engagement process will be published in due course.

The review is expected to conclude in early summer 2024.

Sir David Behan: biography

In the mid-1970s, whilst at school, David undertook voluntary work with homeless people. This was the beginning of the ‘golden thread‘ that has run through his career – the commitment to make a contribution to a more socially-just society. Initially this was as a social worker, and over a 25-year period he worked in 5 local authorities, leading 3 as Director of Social Services.

Previous roles

• 2002 – President of the Association of Directors of Social Services
• 2003 – the first Chief Inspector of the Commission for Social Care Inspection
• 2006 – the first Director General for Social Care in the Department of Health in England, advising ministers of both the labour and coalition governments. During this period, he was responsible for a range of policy areas including social care reform and the development of the first dementia strategy for England.
• 2012 to 2018 – as CEO of the Care Quality Commission he led a fundamental reform of the way health and care services were regulated

From 2018 he has held several non-executive director and advisor roles with a number of public and private organisations across the health and social care system which currently include:

• Cera Care
• HC-One limited
• the London School of Economics Care Policy Evaluation Centre
• the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Board
• the international Sciana Leadership Programme

Between 2018 to 2023 he has chaired the Board of Health Education England.

He is a Non-Executive Director of NHS England chairing the Workforce, Training and Education Committee.