The Education Committee has endorsed the Government's preferred
candidate, Professor Edward Peck, as the new Chair of the Office
for Students (OfS).
The cross-party Committee has produced a
report, which sets out its conclusions on page 7,
after holding a pre-appointment hearing with Professor Peck on
Tuesday, 4 March.
Professor Peck was questioned on topics including: recent
criticism of the OfS by the House of Lords Industry and
Regulators Committee; recommendations in the Behan Review; the
OfS's role in supporting students, particularly regarding mental
health support and zero tolerance of sexual harassment; financial
pressures facing higher education institutions; ensuring freedom
of speech in academia and on campuses; ensuring the OfS's
independence from government; the student experience of higher
education and value for money; how the OfS could widen access to
HE among students from under-represented backgrounds.
Professor Peck became Vice Chancellor of Nottingham Trent
University in 2014. Since 2019, he has been a trustee of UCAS and
the Chair of UCAS since 2024. Since 2023, he has chaired the
Higher Education Mental Health Implementation Taskforce and has
been the DfE Student Support Champion since 2022. In 2018-19 he
was a member of the independent advisory panel to the Augar
Review of Post-18 Education and Funding. His career began in NHS
management.
The last OfS Chair, , resigned several days
after the 2024 general election, six months before his four-year
term of office was due to end. Sir has served as Interim Chair
since 26 July 2024.
ENDS
Note to editors:
Pre-appointment scrutiny hearings by select committees are an
important part of the process for some of the most significant
public appointments made by ministers. They are used to gauge a
candidate's competence and independence of mind. The Committee's
statement in its report is not binding with regards to the
candidate's eligibility for the role.
