Legalize / United Kingdom / Wales / Act of Senedd Cymru

Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022

Type Act of Senedd Cymru

Publication 2022-09-08

Last updated 2026-04-01

State In force

Jurisdiction Wales

Department Statute Law Database

Source legislation.gov.uk

articles Not indexed

Reform history JSON API

PART 1 — STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR TERTIARY EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

The Commission

Establishment of the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research

1

(1) The Commission for Tertiary Education and Research (“the Commission”) is established as a body corporate.

(2) Schedule 1 contains further provision about the Commission.

The Commission’s strategic duties

Promoting life-long learning

2

The Commission must promote tertiary education for the people of Wales that—

(a) provides opportunities for people to participate in tertiary education throughout their lives from the age of 16;

(b) includes a variety of levels of study and types of qualification;

(d) is organised coherently to facilitate movement of learners through different stages of tertiary education and into employment or business;

(e) otherwise meets the different requirements of those who may wish to undertake tertiary education.

Promoting equality of opportunity

3

(1) The Commission must promote—

(a) increased participation in‍ Welsh tertiary education by persons who are members of under-represented groups;

(b) increased participation in the carrying out of research and innovation in Wales by persons who are members of under-represented groups;

(c) retention of students who are members of under-represented groups to the end of courses of‍ Welsh tertiary education;

(d) reduction of any gaps in attainment in‍ Welsh tertiary education between different groups of students where the differences arise from social, cultural, economic or organisational factors;

(e) the provision of support for students finishing courses of‍ Welsh tertiary education who are members of under-represented groups to continue their tertiary education, find employment or start a business.

(2) In this section, “under-represented groups” are—

(a) in relation to tertiary education, groups that are under-represented in‍ Welsh tertiary education as a result of social, cultural, economic or organisational factors, and

(b) in relation to research and innovation, groups that are under-represented in the carrying out of research and innovation in Wales as a result of social, cultural, economic or organisational factors.

Encouraging participation in tertiary education

4

The Commission must—

(a) encourage individuals who are ordinarily resident in Wales, in particular those who have additional learning needs, to participate in tertiary education, and

(b) encourage employers in Wales to participate in the provision of tertiary education.

Promoting continuous improvement in tertiary education

5

(1) The Commission must promote continuous improvement in the quality of‍ Welsh tertiary education.

(2) In discharging this duty, the Commission must have regard (among other things) to—

(a) the importance of ensuring that members of the tertiary education workforce are capable of providing tertiary education of a high quality;

(b) the reasonable requirements of members of the tertiary education workforce for continuous professional development;

(3) In this section, “members of the tertiary education workforce” are—

(a) teachers of persons receiving tertiary educatio‍n,

(b) persons who provide support to such teachers, and

Promotion of research and innovation

6

(1) The Commission must promote—

(a) the carrying out of research and innovation in Wales;

(b) continuous improvement in the quality of research and innovation carried out by relevant persons, and the competitiveness of that research and innovation compared to research and innovation carried out by other persons;

(i) relevant persons;

(ii) relevant persons and others;

(d) the carrying out by relevant persons of research and innovation and of activities related to research and innovation through the medium of Welsh.

(2) In subsection (1), “relevant person” means—

(a) a provider specified in regulations under section 105(4);

(b) a collaborating body within the meaning given by section 105(4) when carrying out research and innovation in respect of which consent given by the Commission under section 105(5) is in effect.

Promoting collaboration and coherence in tertiary education and research

7

The Commission must promote—

(a) collaboration between‍ tertiary education providers in Wales, schools in Wales and employers;

(b) coherence in the provision of tertiary education by tertiary education providers in Wales and the alignment of such provision with research and innovation priorities.

Contributing to a sustainable and innovative economy

8

(1) The Commission must promote tertiary education and research in a way that contributes to the development of a sustainable and innovative economy in Wales.

(2) In discharging this duty, the Commission must have regard (among other things) to the reasonable requirements of industry, commerce, finance, the professions, other employers and workers.

(3) For the purpose of subsection (1), a sustainable economy is an economy in which the needs of the present are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Promoting tertiary education through the medium of Welsh

9

(1) The Commission must—

(a) encourage‍ demand for, and participation in,‍ Welsh tertiary education provided through the medium of Welsh;

(b) take all reasonable steps to ensure that there is sufficient‍ Welsh tertiary education provided through the medium of Welsh to meet‍ demand;

(i) registered providers in Wales, and

(ii) other persons providing tertiary education funded or otherwise secured by the Commission.

(2) The Welsh Ministers must designate a person to give relevant advice to the Commission.

(3) In this section, “relevant advice” means advice given for the purpose of assisting the Commission in the discharge of its duties under subsection (1).

(4) A person may be designated under subsection (2) only if the Welsh Ministers consider the person is suitable to give advice on the following—

(a) the promotion, maintenance, development and planning of tertiary education provided in Wales through the medium of Welsh,

(b) the promotion of the acquisition and improvement of Welsh language skills,

(c) the maintenance, development, planning and provision of activities to support the acquisition and improvement of Welsh language skills, and

(d) collaboration between tertiary education providers in Wales in relation to the matters mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c).

(5) The duty in subsection (2) does not apply if—

(a) the Welsh Ministers consider there is no person suitable to give advice on the matters mentioned in subsection (4), or

(b) there is no person who consents to be designated.

(6) The Commission must have regard to any relevant advice given to it by a person designated under subsection (2).

(7) The Commission must publish a designation made by the Welsh Ministers under subsection (2).

(8) A designation under subsection (2) may be removed.

Promoting a civic mission

10

(1) The Commission must promote the pursuit of a civic mission by tertiary education providers in Wales that are institutions within the further education sector and the higher education sector.

(2) The Commission may exercise its functions under this Act to promote the pursuit of a civic mission by other persons (other than the tertiary education providers mentioned in subsection (1)) who are funded by the Commission under this Act.

(3) In this section, a “civic mission” means action for the purpose of promoting or improving the economic, social, environmental or cultural well-being of Wales (including action aimed at achieving any of the well-being goals in section 4 of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 (anaw 2)).

(4) In subsection (3) and in section 11, “well-being of Wales” includes the well-being of—

(a) the whole or any part of Wales;

(b) all or any persons resident or present in Wales.

Promoting a global outlook

11

The Commission must promote—

(a) opportunities in tertiary education for persons ordinarily resident in Wales to study or teach elsewhere in the world;

(b) opportunities to study or teach in tertiary education in Wales for persons ordinarily resident outside Wales;

(c) opportunities for the benefits gained from study and teaching of the kind mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b) to be used for the economic, social, environmental or cultural well-being of Wales;

(d) collaboration in tertiary education between‍ tertiary education providers in Wales and those elsewhere in the world;

(e) opportunities for persons ordinarily resident in Wales and tertiary education providers in Wales to carry out research and innovation elsewhere in the worl‍d.

Promoting collaboration between providers of tertiary education and trade unions

12

(1) The Commission must promote collaboration between tertiary education providers in Wales and relevant trade unions.

(2) A trade union is a relevant trade union for the purpose of this section if the Commission considers that collaboration between it and tertiary education providers in Wales is likely to assist the discharge of the Commission’s duties under sections 2 to 11, and it is—

(a) represented by the body known as Wales TUC Cymru, or

(b) if not so represented, the Commission considers it represents members of the tertiary education workforce (within the meaning given by section 5(3)) in Wales.

Strategy for tertiary education and research

Statement of strategic priorities

13

(1) The Welsh Ministers must publish a statement setting out their strategic priorities for and in connection with tertiary education and research and innovation.

(2) The Welsh Ministers may at any time amend the statement published under subsection (1) (including by replacing it entirely).

(3) The Welsh Ministers must publish any amendments they make to the statement.

Strategic plan for the Commission

14

(1) The Commission must prepare a strategic plan setting out how it intends to—

(a) discharge its strategic duties under sections 2 to 12 , and

(b) address the priorities in the Welsh Ministers’ statement under section 13.

(2) In preparing the plan, the Commission must consult such persons as it considers appropriate.

Approval, publication and implementation of strategic plan

15

(1) The Commission must send a strategic plan prepared under section 14 to the Welsh Ministers for their approval before the end of a period of 6 months beginning with the day on which the statement is published under section 13(1).

(2) The Welsh Ministers may—

(a) approve the plan, or

(b) approve the plan with modifications.

(3) The Welsh Ministers must‍ seek the agreement of the Commission to each modification they propose making to a plan before they modify it under subsection (2)(b).

(4) If the Welsh Ministers approve a plan containing a modification that is not agreed by the Commission—

(a) the Welsh Ministers must give reasons for that modification to the Commission, and

(b) the Commission must publish the reasons given by the Welsh Ministers when it publishes its approved strategic plan.

(5) The Commission must publish its approved strategic plan.

(6) The Commission may publish its statement about well-being objectives under section 7 of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 (anaw 2) by including it in its approved strategic plan.

(7) The Commission must take all reasonable steps to implement its approved strategic plan.

Review of strategic plan

16

(1) If the Welsh Ministers amend their statement under section 13(2) after the Commission has published its approved strategic plan under section 15(5), the Commission must review its strategic plan.

(2) The Commission may review its strategic plan at any other time.

(3) The Commission may revise its strategic plan after a review under subsection (1) or (2) if it considers it appropriate to do so.

(4) If the Commission revises its strategic plan, section 14 applies in relation to the revision of the plan as it applies in relation to the preparation of a plan.

(5) The Commission must send its revised strategic plan to the Welsh Ministers for their approval—

(a) where the revision is in consequence of a review under subsection (1), before the end of a period of 6 months beginning with the day on which the Welsh Ministers publish the amendments to their statement, or

(b) where the revision is in consequence of a review under subsection (2), as soon as is reasonably practicable.

(6) Subsections (2) to (7) of section 15 apply to a plan revised under this section as they apply to a plan prepared under section 14.

Academic freedom and institutional autonomy

Academic freedom of higher education providers and staff

17

(1) In exercising their functions under this Act, the Welsh Ministers and the Commission must have regard to the importance of protecting the academic freedom of—

(a) tertiary education providers in Wales that provide higher education (so far as the freedom relates to higher education or research and innovation), and

(b) academic staff at those providers.

(2) In this section, “academic freedom” means—

(a) in relation to tertiary education providers, their freedom to determine—

(i) the contents of particular higher education courses and the manner in which they are taught, supervised or assessed,

(ii) the criteria for admission of students to higher education courses and to apply those criteria in particular cases, and

(iii) the criteria for the selection and appointment of academic staff and to apply those criteria in particular cases;

(b) in relation to academic staff, their freedom within the law—

(i) to question and test received wisdom, and

(ii) to put forward new ideas and controversial or unpopular opinions,

without placing themselves in jeopardy of losing their jobs or privileges they may have at the tertiary education providers.‍

Additional functions of the Commission

18

In exercising their functions under this Act, the Welsh Ministers and the Commission must have regard to the importance of protecting the freedom within the law of tertiary education providers in Wales to conduct their day to day management in an effective and competent way.

Compatibility with charity law

Compatibility with charity law and governing documents of tertiary education providers

19

(1) Nothing in this Act confers power on the Commission or on the Welsh Ministers to require the governing body of a tertiary education provider to do anything that is incompatible with—

(a) any legal obligation or legal restriction that applies to the governing body by virtue of the provider being a charity, or

(b) the governing documents of the provider.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the governing documents of a tertiary education provider are—

(a) in the case of a provider established by Royal Charter—

(i) the provider’s Charter, and

(ii) any instrument relating to the conduct of the provider the making or amendment of which requires the approval of the Privy Council;

(b) in the case of a provider conducted by a higher education corporation (within the meaning given by section 90(1) of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 (c. 13)), the corporation’s instrument of government and articles of government;

(c) in the case of a provider conducted by a further education corporation (within the meaning given by section 17(1) of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992), the corporation’s instrument of government and articles of government;

(d) in the case of a provider that is an institution designated under section 129 of the Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40) or section 28 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, the provider’s instrument of government and articles of government;

(e) in the case of a provider that is a school, the school’s instrument of government (if any);

(f) in the case of a provider‍ that is conducted by a company, the company’s memorandum and articles of association.

Welsh Ministers’ guidance and directions

Guidance

20

In exercising its functions, the Commission must have regard to guidance given to it by the Welsh Ministers.

The Welsh Ministers’ power to give general directions

21

(1) The Welsh Ministers may give the Commission general directions about the exercise of any of its functions.

(2) Directions under this section may be framed by reference to a particular course of study, but must not require the Commission to exercise a function in a way which prohibits or requires the provision of a particular course of study.

(3) The directions must not be framed by reference to—

(a) a particular registered provider,

(b) a particular person other than a registered provider in receipt of financial resources provided or secured by the Commission under Part 3,

(d) particular programmes of research or innovation projects,

(e) the content of courses of study, programmes of research or innovation projects,

(f) the manner in which such courses, programmes or projects are taught, supervised or assessed,

(g) the criteria for the selection, appointment or dismissal of academic staff, or how they are applied, or

(h) the criteria for the admission of students, or how they are applied.

(4) Subsections (2) and (3) do not prevent directions under this section being framed by reference to courses of study or parts of courses of study being provided and assessed through the medium of Welsh.

(5) Directions under this section may be framed by reference to an area of research or innovation but only if that area is specified in the Commission’s strategic plan approved under section 15.

(6) Before giving a direction under this section, the Welsh Ministers must consult the Commission.

(7) If the Welsh Ministers give a direction under this section, they must—

(a) publish the direction,

(b) report to Senedd Cymru that a direction has been given and lay a copy of the direction before the Senedd, and

(8) The Commission must comply with a direction given under this section.

Additional functions

Additional functions of the Commission

22

(1) The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations, confer on the Commission supplementary functions.

(2) A “supplementary function” is a function that—

(a) is exercisable for the purposes of a function of the Welsh Ministers, and

(b) relates to—

(i) the provision, or proposed provision, of tertiary education, or

(ii) the carrying out, or proposed carrying out, of research and innovation.

(3) Subsections (4) and (5) apply where—

(a) land or other property is or was used or held for the purposes of a tertiary education provider in Wales that is an institution within the higher education sector or the further education sector, and

(b) the Welsh Ministers are entitled to any right or interest in respect of the property, or would be so entitled on the occurrence of an event.

(4) The Welsh Ministers may direct that all or any of the Welsh Ministers’ functions in respect of the property are exercisable on their behalf by the Commission.

(5) The Commission must exercise those functions in accordance with directions given by the Welsh Ministers.

Dissolution of Higher Education Funding Council for Wales

Dissolution of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales

23

The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales ceases to exist.

Transfer schemes

24

Schedule 2 makes provision about schemes for the transfer of staff and property, rights and liabilities from the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and the Welsh Ministers to the Commission.

PART 2 — REGISTRATION AND REGULATION OF TERTIARY EDUCATION PROVIDERS

CHAPTER 1 — REGISTRATION OF TERTIARY EDUCATION PROVIDERS

The register and registration procedure

The register

25

(1) The Commission must establish and maintain a register of tertiary education providers in Wales (referred to in this Act as “the register”).

(2) The Welsh Ministers must, by regulations, specify one or more categories of registration for which the Commission must make provision in the register.

(3) A category of registration specified in the regulations must relate to the provision of one or more kinds of tertiary education.

(4) The Commission must register a tertiary education provider in a category of the register if—

(a) its governing body applies for it to be registered in the category,

(b) it is a tertiary education provider in Wales,

(d) it satisfies the initial registration conditions applicable to it in respect of the registration sought (see section 27),

(e) registration is not prohibited by provision made in regulations under subsection (5), and

(f) the application complies with any requirements imposed under subsection (7).

(5) The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations, prohibit the registration of a tertiary education provider in one category of the register at the same time that it is registered in one or more of the other categories.

(6) The Commission must not register a tertiary education provider in the register otherwise than—

(a) in a category of registration specified in regulations under subsection (2);

(b) in accordance with subsection (4), section 44 (change in registration category without application) and any regulations made under subsection (5).

(7) The Commission may determine—

(a) the form of an application for registration,

(b) the information to be contained in it or provided with it, and

(8) The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations, make provision about the information which must be contained in a tertiary education provider’s entry in the register.

(9) Once registered, a tertiary education provider’s ongoing registration in a category of the register is subject to the provider satisfying—

(a) the general ongoing registration conditions applicable to the provider’s registration in the category and as they may be later revised (see section 28), and

(b) the specific ongoing registration conditions (if any) imposed on it in that category of registration and as they may be later varied (see section 29).

(10) References in this Part to the ongoing registration conditions of a tertiary education provider are to the conditions mentioned in subsection (9)(a) and (b).

(11) The Commission must make the information contained in the register, and the information previously contained in it, publicly available by such means as it considers appropriate.

Registration procedure

26

(1) Before refusing an application to register a tertiary education provider in a category of the register, the Commission must notify the governing body of the provider that it proposes to do so.

(2) The notice must specify—

(a) the Commission’s reasons for proposing to refuse to register the tertiary education provider in the category,

(b) the period during which the governing body of the provider may make representations about the proposal (“the specified period”), and

(3) The specified period must not be less than 28 days beginning with the date on which the notice is received.

(4) The Commission must have regard to any representations made by the governing body of the tertiary education provider in accordance with the notice in deciding whether to register it in the category.

(5) Having decided whether or not to register the tertiary education provider in the category, the Commission must notify the governing body of the provider of its decision.

(6) Where the decision is to register the tertiary education provider in the category, the notice must specify—

(a) the date of entry in the register in the category, and

(b) the ongoing registration conditions applicable to the provider’s registration in the category at that time.

(7) Where the decision is to refuse to register the provider in the category, the notice must specify—

(a) the grounds for the refusal,

(b) information as to the right of review, and

Registration conditions

Initial registration conditions

27

(1) It is an initial condition of registration in each category of the register that the Commission is satisfied as to—

(a) the quality of the kind of tertiary education provided by, or on behalf of, the applicant tertiary education provider to which the category of the register relates;

(b) the effectiveness of the governance and management of the applicant tertiary education provider (including its financial management);

(d) the effectiveness of the applicant tertiary education provider’s arrangements for supporting and promoting the welfare of its students and staff;

(e) where there are validation arrangements in place, the effectiveness of those arrangements in enabling the applicant tertiary education provider to satisfy itself as to the quality of the education leading to the award of a qualification under the arrangements.

(2) The Commission must publish a document specifying the requirements that must be met for it to be satisfied as to the matters mentioned in subsection (1).

(3) The Commission may revise the requirements.

(4) If the Commission revises the requirements, it must publish a revised document specifying the requirements as revised.

(5) Before publishing the document or revised document, the Commission must, if it appears to it appropriate to do so, consult such persons as it considers appropriate.

(6) The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations, provide for further initial conditions of registration for any category of registration.

(7) Regulations under subsection (6) may (among other things)—

(a) confer functions on the Commission in connection with the operation of further initial conditions provided for in the regulations;

(b) provide for further initial conditions of registration relating to—

(i) the charitable or other status of tertiary education providers;

(ii) the information provided to prospective students about a provider, its courses, and its terms and conditions of contracts with students;

(iii) complaints procedures of providers.

(8) In subsection (1)(e), “validation arrangements” means arrangements between an applicant tertiary education provider and another education provider under which the applicant tertiary education provider awards a qualification to a student at the other provider or authorises the other provider to award a qualification on its behalf.

General ongoing registration conditions

28

(1) The Commission must determine and publish general ongoing registration conditions.

(2) Different conditions may be determined for different categories of registration.

(3) In relation to a category of registration, different conditions may be determined for different descriptions of tertiary education provider.

(4) The Commission must publish the general ongoing registration conditions in a way that identifies the category of registration to which the condition applies.

(5) The Commission may revise the conditions.

(6) If the Commission revises the conditions, it must publish them as revised.

(7) Before determining or revising the conditions, the Commission must, if it appears to it appropriate to do so, consult‍ such persons as it considers appropriate.

(8) The Commission may, at the time of a tertiary education provider’s registration in a category of the register or later, decide that any one or more general ongoing registration conditions applicable to registration in that category is not applicable to the provider, subject to the requirements under this Part relating to mandatory ongoing registration conditions.

(9) Where the decision is made after the tertiary education provider’s registration in that category of the register, the Commission must notify the governing body of the provider of its decision.

Specific ongoing registration conditions

29

(1) The Commission may, at the time of a tertiary education provider’s registration in a category of the register or later, impose such conditions on its registration in the category as the Commission may determine (“the specific ongoing registration conditions”).

(2) The Commission may at any time vary or remove a specific ongoing registration condition.

(3) Before—

(a) imposing a specific ongoing registration condition, or

(b) varying or removing a specific ongoing registration condition,

the Commission must notify the governing body of the tertiary education provider that it proposes to do so.

(4) The notice must—

(a) specify the Commission’s reasons for proposing to take the step in question,

(b) specify the period during which the governing body of the tertiary education provider may make representations about the proposal (“the specified period”), and

(5) The specified period must not be less than 28 days beginning with the date on which the notice is received.

(6) The Commission must have regard to any representations made by the governing body of the tertiary education provider in accordance with the notice in deciding whether to take the step in question.

(7) Having decided whether or not to take the step in question, the Commission must—

(a) notify the governing body of the tertiary education provider of its decision, and

(b) publish the notice.

(8) If the Commission decides to impose a new specific ongoing registration condition or vary or remove a specific ongoing registration condition, the notice must—

(a) specify the new condition, the condition as varied or the condition being removed (as the case may be), and

(b) specify the date when the imposition, variation or removal takes effect.

(9) Where the notice relates to the imposition or variation of a specific ongoing registration condition, the notice must also specify—

(a) the grounds for the imposition or variation of the condition,

(b) information as to the right of review, and

(10) A specific ongoing registration condition, or a variation to such a condition, may not take effect at any time when—

(a) an application for review under section 45(b) could be brought in respect of the decision to impose or vary the condition, or

(b) a review or a decision by the Commission following such a review is pending.

(11) But that does not prevent a specific ongoing registration condition, or a variation to such a condition, taking effect if the governing body of the tertiary education provider notifies the Commission that it does not intend to apply for a review.

(12) Where subsection (10) ceases to prevent a specific ongoing registration condition, or a variation to such a condition, taking effect on the date specified under subsection (8), the Commission must determine a future date on which it takes effect.

(13) But that is subject to what has been determined by the Commission following any review under section 45(b) in respect of the decision to impose or vary the condition.

Proportionate conditions etc.

30

(1) The Commission must ensure that—

(a) the requirements specified under section 27(2), and

(b) all ongoing registration conditions,

are proportionate to the Commission’s assessment of the risks posed.

(2) In light of its duty under subsection (1), the Commission must keep all ongoing registration conditions under review.

Mandatory ongoing registration conditions for each registered provider

31

(1) The Commission must ensure that the ongoing registration conditions of each tertiary education provider registered in a category include—

(a) a condition relating to the quality of the kind of tertiary education provided by, or on behalf of, the provider to which the category of registration relates;

(b) a condition relating to the effectiveness of the governance and management of the provider (including its financial management);

(d) a condition relating to the effectiveness of the provider’s arrangements for supporting and promoting the welfare of its students and staff;

(e) a condition relating to the effectiveness of any validation arrangements in place;

(f) a condition requiring the governing body of the provider to notify the Commission of any change of which it becomes aware which affects the accuracy of the information contained in the provider’s entry in the register;

(g) a condition requiring the governing body of the provider, if it has been given notice under section 126(1), to have in place a learner protection plan approved by the Commission (under section 126(3) or (5)) on or before the date specified in the condition and to give effect to the plan;

(h) a condition requiring the governing body of the provider to comply with the requirements contained in the Learner Engagement Code published under section 129(1) or any revised code published under section 129(3);

(i) a condition requiring the governing body of the provider to have regard to advice or guidance given by the Commission to the body (either specifically or to persons generally) in exercise of the Commission’s functions under this Act;

(j) a condition requiring the governing body of the provider to provide the Commission, or a person authorised by the Commission, with such information, assistance and access to the provider’s facilities, systems and equipment as the Commission may reasonably require for the purpose of exercising the Commission’s functions under this Part.

(2) In subsection (1)(e), “validation arrangements” means arrangements between the registered provider and another education provider under which the registered provider awards a qualification to a student at the other provider or authorises the other provider to award a qualification on its behalf.

Mandatory ongoing registration condition on fee limits

32

(1) The Commission must ensure that the ongoing registration conditions of each registered provider—

(a) falling within a fee limit category, and

(b) providing qualifying courses, or having qualifying courses provided on its behalf,

include a fee limit condition.

(2) A fee limit category is a category of registration—

(a) for which the Commission must make provision in the register, and

(b) which is specified for the purpose of this section in regulations made by the Welsh Ministers.

(3) A fee limit condition is a condition that requires the governing body of a registered provider to—

(a) have a fee limit statement approved under section 47, and

(b) secure that regulated course fees do not exceed the applicable fee limit.

(4) A qualifying course is a course of a description specified in regulations made by the Welsh Ministers to which subsection (5)‍ applies.

(5) This subsection applies to a course provided—

(a) at one or more places in Wales or elsewhere,

(b) by means of correspondence, equipment or other facility that enables persons who are not in the same place (whether in Wales or elsewhere) to participate in teaching or studying the course, or

(6) The power to specify a description of course under subsection (4) must not be exercised so as to discriminate—

(a) in relation to courses of initial teacher training, between different courses on the basis of the subjects in which such training is given;

(b) in relation to other courses, between different courses at the same or a comparable level on the basis of the areas of study or research to which they relate.

(7) Regulated course fees are fees payable to the tertiary education provider by a qualifying person—

(a) in connection with the person undertaking a qualifying course, and

(b) in respect of an academic year applicable to that course, where the year begins on a day when the applicable provisions in the fee limit statement have effect.

(8) The applicable fee limit is—

(a) in a case where the tertiary education provider’s fee limit statement specifies a fee limit for the course and year in question, that limit;

(b) in a case where the provider’s fee limit statement provides for the determination of a fee limit for the course and year in question, that limit as determined in accordance with the statement.

(9) A qualifying person is a person who—

(a) is not an international student, and

(b) falls within any class of persons specified in regulations made by the Welsh Ministers for the purposes of this Part.

(10) An international student is a person who may or must be charged higher fees by virtue of regulations made under section 1 of the Education (Fees and Awards) Act 1983 (c. 40) (charging of higher fees in case of students not having prescribed connection with the United Kingdom).

(11) The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations, make provision for circumstances in which fees payable to a person, in connection with a qualifying person’s undertaking a course, or part of a course, provided on behalf of a tertiary education provider, are to be treated for the purposes of subsection (7) and section 46 as being payable to that provider in connection with the qualifying person’s undertaking the course.

Mandatory ongoing registration conditions on equal opportunity

33

(1) The Commission must ensure that the ongoing registration conditions of each‍ registered provider include conditions requiring the delivery of measurable outcomes to further each of the aims in subsection (2).

(2) The aims are—

(a) increasing participation in relevant tertiary education provided‍ by, or on behalf of, the registered provider by persons who are members of under-represented groups;

(b) retention of students who are members of under-represented groups to the end of courses of relevant tertiary education provided‍ by, or on behalf of, the registered provider;

(c) reduction of any gaps in attainment in relevant tertiary education provided‍ by, or on behalf of, the registered provider between different groups of students specified in the conditions, where the differences arise from social, cultural, economic or organisational factors;

(d) provision of support for students finishing courses of‍ relevant tertiary education provided by, or on behalf of, the registered provider who are members of under-represented groups to continue their tertiary education, find employment or start a business.

(3) In this section—

”relevant tertiary education” (“addysg drydyddol berthnasol”) means‍‍ courses of tertiary education provided wholly or mainly in Wales and of a kind that relates to the category of the register in which the provider in question is registered;

“under-represented groups” (“grwpiau sydd heb gynrychiolaeth ddigonol”) are groups specified in the conditions that are under-represented in relevant tertiary education‍ as a result of social, cultural, economic or organisational factors.

Power to provide for further mandatory ongoing registration conditions

34

The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations, provide for further mandatory ongoing registration conditions applicable to one or more of the categories of registration.

Commission duty to give guidance about ongoing registration conditions

35

The Commission must publish guidance for registered providers about ongoing registration conditions.

Monitoring and enforcement of registration conditions

Commission duty to monitor compliance with ongoing registration conditions

36

The Commission must monitor compliance with ongoing registration conditions by registered providers.

Advice and assistance in respect of compliance with ongoing registration conditions

37

The Commission may provide, or make arrangements for the provision of, advice or other assistance to a registered provider for the purpose of securing compliance by the provider with its ongoing registration conditions.

Reviews relevant to compliance with ongoing registration conditions

38

The Commission may carry out, or arrange for another person to carry out, a review of any matters that it considers relevant to compliance by a registered provider with its ongoing registration conditions.

Directions in respect of failure to comply with ongoing registration conditions

39

(1) The Commission may give the governing body of a tertiary education provider a direction under this section if it is satisfied that the governing body has failed, or is likely to fail, to comply with an ongoing registration condition.

(2) In the case of a failure, or likely failure, to comply with an ongoing registration condition, the Commission may direct the governing body to comply with the condition.

(3) In the case of a failure to comply with a fee limit condition, the Commission may also, as an alternative or in addition to a direction described in subsection (2), direct the governing body to reimburse excess fees paid to the tertiary education provider.

(4) A direction under this section may specify steps that are (or are not) to be taken by the governing body for the purpose of compliance with the condition.

(5) A direction of the kind described in subsection (3) may specify the manner in which reimbursement of excess fees is to be, or may be, effected.

(6) If the Commission gives a direction under this section, it must—

(a) give a copy of the direction to the Welsh Ministers;

(b) publish the direction.

(7) “Excess fees” are regulated course fees to the extent that those fees exceed the applicable fee limit (as quantified for the purposes of the duty under section 32 with which the governing body has failed to comply).

(8) For procedural provision about directions under this section, see sections 75 to 78.

Supplementary provision about directions under section 39

40

(1) The Commission may issue guidance about steps to be taken for the purpose of complying with a direction under section 39.

(2) Before issuing guidance under this section the Commission must consult the governing body of each registered provider; and may consult the governing body of any other tertiary education provider in Wales as it considers appropriate.

De-registration

41

(1) The Commission must remove a tertiary education provider from a category of the register if the Commission becomes aware that the provider—

(a) is no longer a tertiary education provider in Wales, or

(b) no longer provides, or has provided on its behalf, the kind of tertiary education that relates to the category.

(2) The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations, specify other circumstances in which a registered provider must be removed from one or more categories of the register or all categories of the register.

(3) The Commission may remove a registered provider from a category of the register if condition A or B is satisfied.

(4) Condition A is satisfied if—

(a) the Commission has previously exercised its powers under section 39 (directions in respect of failure to comply with ongoing registration conditions) in relation to breach of one of the tertiary education provider’s ongoing registration conditions that apply to the category of registration, and

(b) it appears to the Commission that—

(i) there is again a breach, or a continuing breach, of that condition, or

(ii) there is or has been a breach of a different one of the provider’s ongoing registration conditions that apply to the category of registration.

(5) Condition B is satisfied if it appears to the Commission that—

(a) there is or has been a breach of one of the tertiary education provider’s ongoing registration conditions that apply to the category of registration, and

(b) its powers under section 39 are insufficient to deal with the breach (whether or not they have been, are being or are to be, exercised in relation to it).

(6) The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations, make transitional or saving provision in connection with the removal of a tertiary education provider from a category of the register under this section.

(7) Regulations under subsection (6) may include provision treating the tertiary education provider as a registered provider for such purposes as the regulations may specify.

(8) The Commission must—

(a) maintain a list of tertiary education providers removed from a category of the register under this section,

(b) include in that list reference to any regulations made under subsection (6), and

Registration decision reviews

42

(1) Before removing a registered provider from a category of the register under section 41, the Commission must notify the governing body of the provider that it proposes to do so.

(2) The notice must specify—

(a) the Commission’s reasons for proposing to remove the provider from a category of the register,

(b) the period during which the governing body of the provider may make representations about the proposal (“the specified period”), and

(3) The specified period must not be less than 28 days beginning with the date on which the notice is received.

(4) The Commission must have regard to any representations made by the governing body of the provider in accordance with the notice in deciding whether to remove it from a category of the register.

(5) Having decided whether or not to remove the provider from a category of the register, the Commission must notify the governing body of the provider of its decision.

(6) Where the decision is to remove the provider from a category of the register, the notice must specify the date on which the removal takes effect.

(7) The notice must also specify—

(a) the grounds for the removal,

(b) information as to the right of review, and

(8) A removal under section 41 may not take effect at any time when—

(a) an application for a review under section 45(c) or (d) could be brought in respect of the decision to remove, or

(b) a review or a decision by the Commission following such a review is pending.

(9) But that does not prevent a removal taking effect if the governing body of the provider notifies the Commission that it does not intend to apply for a review.

(10) Where subsection (8) ceases to prevent a removal taking effect on the date specified under subsection (6), the Commission must determine a future date on which the removal takes effect.

(11) But that is subject to what has been determined by the Commission following any review under section 45(c) or (d) in respect of the decision to remove.

43

(1) The Commission must remove a registered provider from a category of the register if—

(a) the governing body of the provider applies to the Commission for the provider to be removed from that category of the register, and

(b) the application complies with any requirements imposed under subsection (6).

(2) But if the application under subsection (1)(a) specifies that it is combined with an application under section 25(4)(a) for registration in another category, the duty in subsection (1) does not apply unless the condition in subsection (3) applies or both of the conditions in subsection (4) apply.

(3) The condition in this subsection is that the Commission is required to register the provider in the other category in accordance with the application under section 25(4)(a).

(4) The conditions in this subsection are—

(a) that the Commission would be required to register the provider in the other category in accordance with the application under section 25(4)(a) were it not for the effect of section 25(4)(e) in relation to the categories of registration that are the subject of the application under subsection (1)(a) and section 25(4)(a), and

(b) that the Commission would be required to register the provider in the other category if the provider is removed from the category in respect of which the application under subsection (1)(a) is made.

(5) The Commission may remove a registered provider from a category of the register if the governing body of the provider consents.

(6) The Commission may determine—

(a) the form of an application under subsection (1),

(b) the information to be contained in it or provided with it, and

(7) The Commission must notify the governing body of the provider of the date on which the provider is removed from the category of the register under this section (“the removal date”).

(8) The Commission may vary the removal date at any time before that date by notifying the governing body of the provider.

(9) A removal under this section may not take effect at any time when—

(a) an application for a review under section 45(d) could be brought in respect of the decision to remove, or

(b) a review or a decision by the Commission following a such review is pending.

(10) But that does not prevent a removal taking effect if the governing body of the provider notifies the Commission that it does not intend to apply for a review.

(11) Where subsection (9) ceases to prevent a removal taking effect on the date specified under subsection (7), the Commission must determine a future date on which the removal takes effect.

(12) But that is subject to what has been determined by the Commission following any review under section 45(d) in respect of the decision to remove.

(13) The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations, make transitional or saving provision in connection with the removal of a provider from a category of the register under this section.

(14) Regulations under subsection (13) may include provision treating the provider as a registered provider in that category for such purposes as the regulations may specify.

(15) The Commission must—

(a) maintain a list of tertiary education providers removed from categories of the register under this section,

(b) include in that list reference to any regulations made under subsection (13), and

Change of registration category without application

44

Where a registered provider is removed from a category of the register under section 41(3) or 43(5), the Commission may register the provider in another category without an application under section 25(4)(a) if—

(a) the governing body of the provider consents,

(b) it continues to be a tertiary education provider in Wales,

(d) it satisfies the initial registration conditions applicable to it in respect of the registration in the other category (see section 27), and

(e) registration in the other category is not prohibited by provision made in regulations under section 25(5).

Registration decision reviews

45

The governing body of a tertiary education provider may apply for a review by the decision reviewer of any of the following decisions —

(a) a decision of the Commission to refuse to register the provider in a category of the register under section 25;

(b) a decision of the Commission to impose or vary a specific ongoing registration condition on the provider under section 29;

(d) a decision of the Commission as to the date specified under section 42(6) or section 43(7) or (8) as the date on which a removal of the provider from a category of the register takes effect.

Fee limit statements

Requirements of a fee limit statement

46

(1) A fee limit statement is a document that complies with this section.

(2) A fee limit statement must—

(a) specify a fee limit, or

(b) provide for the determination of a fee limit,

in relation to each qualifying course and in respect of each relevant academic year.

(3) A fee limit statement may specify, or provide for the determination of, different fee limits in relation to different courses and in respect of different relevant academic years.

(4) A fee limit statement must specify the date on which it begins to have effect and any variation of a fee limit statement must specify the date on which the variation begins to have effect.

(5) In this Part—

(a) a fee limit, in relation to a course, is a limit that the fees payable to the tertiary education provider by a qualifying person, in connection with the person’s undertaking the course, must not exceed;

(b) a relevant academic year, in relation to a course, is an academic year that is applicable to the course, and in respect of which fees are payable to the provider, and which begins on a day when the applicable provisions in the fee limit statement have effect.

(6) Where a fee limit statement specifies a fee limit in relation to a year and course, the fee limit specified must not exceed whatever amount is specified in regulations made by the Welsh Ministers for the purposes of this section (“the maximum amount”).

(7) Where a fee limit statement provides for the determination of a fee limit in relation to a year and course, the statement must specify that the fee limit determined in accordance with the statement is not to exceed the maximum amount.

Approval of fee limit statement

47

(1) The governing body of a tertiary education provider in Wales may apply to the Commission for the Commission’s approval of a proposed fee limit statement relating to the provider.

(2) If an application for approval of a fee limit statement is made to the Commission, the Commission must by notice to the governing body concerned either—

(a) approve the statement, or

(b) reject the statement.

(3) The governing body of a provider with an approved fee limit statement may apply to the Commission for approval of a variation or replacement of the statement.

(4) If an application for approval of a variation or replacement is made, the Commission must by notice to the governing body either—

(a) approve the variation or replacement, or

(b) reject the variation or replacement.

(5) An approved fee limit statement ceases to be approved if the provider to which it relates ceases to be registered in a category of registration specified under section 32(2)(b) to which the statement relates.

(6) For procedural provision about notice under subsections (2)(b) and (4)(b), see sections 75 to 78.

Publication of approved fee limit statement

48

(1) Where the Commission has approved a fee limit statement, the governing body of the provider to which the statement relates must publish the statement (and any approved variation or replacement of the statement).

(2) In discharging its duty under subsection (1), the governing body must have regard to the need to make the statement easily accessible to students and prospective students.

Validity of contracts

49

(1) This section applies to a contract that provides for the payment of regulated course fees to a tertiary education provider, by a qualifying person and in connection with the person’s undertaking a qualifying course, that exceed the applicable fee limit.

(2) For the purposes of any rights and liabilities arising under the contract, and any proceedings in respect of those rights and liabilities, the contract is to be treated as providing for the payment of fees in an amount equivalent to the applicable fee limit.

(3) Except as provided in subsection (2), the contract is not void or unenforceable in consequence of providing for the payment of fees exceeding the applicable fee limit.

CHAPTER 2 — QUALITY ASSURANCE AND IMPROVING QUALITY

General quality assurance functions

Quality assurance frameworks

50

(1) The Commission may publish quality assurance frameworks.

(2) A quality assurance framework is a document setting out guidance and information on matters of policy and practice concerning—

(a) criteria for assessing the quality of tertiary education;

(b) processes for assessing the quality of tertiary education;

(i) persons assessing the quality of tertiary education,

(ii) providers of tertiary education as regards the quality of tertiary education, and

(iii) any other persons as regards the quality of tertiary education as the Commission considers appropriate;

(d) consideration of the views of learners about the quality of the tertiary education they receive;

(e) the professional development of members of the tertiary education workforce;

(f) any other matter the Commission considers relevant to assurance of the quality of tertiary education.

(3) The Commission may revise, replace or withdraw any quality assurance framework published under this section.

(4) Before publishing a framework (or any revised framework) or withdrawing a framework under this section, the Commission must consult—

(a) each registered provider,

(b) Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales (“the Chief Inspector”), and

(5) The persons mentioned in subsection (6) must, so far as relevant to the exercise of their functions, have regard to a quality assurance framework published under this section.

(6) The persons are—

(a) the Commission;

(b) the Chief Inspector;

(7) Nothing in this section affects the Commission’s other powers to issue guidance.

(8) “Members of the tertiary education workforce” has the same meaning as in section 5.

Duty to monitor, and promote improvement in, the quality of regulated tertiary education

51

The Commission must monitor, and promote improvement in, the quality of tertiary education—

(a) provided by, or on behalf of, registered providers (so far as the tertiary education relates to the providers’ categories of registration);

(b) funded or otherwise secured by the Commission.

Advice and assistance in respect of quality of tertiary education

52

(1) This section applies to tertiary education, or a particular course of tertiary education—

(a) provided by, or on behalf of, a registered provider,

(b) funded or otherwise secured by the Commission, or

(2) The Commission may provide, or make arrangements for the provision of, advice or other assistance to any person for the purpose of—

(a) improving the quality of the tertiary education or course, or

(b) preventing the quality of the tertiary education or course from becoming inadequate.

(3) For the purposes of this section, the quality of tertiary education, or of a course of tertiary education, is inadequate if it is not adequate to meet the reasonable needs of those receiving the education or undertaking the course.

Reviews relevant to quality of tertiary education

53

The Commission may carry out, or arrange for another person to carry out, a review of any matters that it considers relevant to the quality of tertiary education, or a particular course of tertiary education—

(a) provided by, or on behalf of, a registered provider,

(b) funded or otherwise secured by the Commission, or

Assessment of quality in higher education

Assessment of quality of higher education

54

(1) The Commission must assess, or make arrangements for the assessment of, the quality of higher education provided—

(a) by each registered provider;

(b) on behalf of each registered provider (whether by another registered provider or by an external provider).

(2) The duty in subsection (1) applies to the assessment of higher education relating to the provider’s category of registration.

(3) The Commission may assess, or make arrangements for the assessment of, the quality of higher education provided in Wales by any tertiary education provider.

(4) The Commission must publish a report of each assessment carried out under this section.

(5) The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations—

(a) require assessments under subsection (1) to be conducted at intervals specified in the regulations;

(b) require reports under subsection (4) to be published before the end of a period specified in the regulations.

(6) Before making regulations under subsection (5), the Welsh Ministers must consult the Commission.

(7) In this Part, references to an external provider are references to a person who—

(a) is not a registered provider, but

(b) is responsible for providing all or part of a course of higher education on behalf of a registered provider;

and references to a governing body in relation to an external provider that is not an institution are references to the persons responsible for the provider’s management.

(8) For the purposes of subsection (7)(b), the Welsh Ministers may make provision by regulations about the circumstances in which a person is (or is not) to be treated as responsible for providing a course (or part of it).

Action plans following assessments under section 54

55

(1) This section applies to assessments conducted under section 54(1)(a) and (b) and published in accordance with section 54(4).

(2) The governing body of a registered provider that provides the higher education assessed, or on behalf of which the higher education is provided (as the case may be), must—

(a) prepare a written statement of the action it proposes to take in the light of the report and the period within which it proposes to take it;

(b) send the statement to the Commission and, if the assessment was conducted by a designated body, the designated body.

(3) The governing body making the statement must publish it.

(4) Compliance with the duties under subsections (2) and (3) is to be treated as an ongoing registration condition that applies to the registered provider for the purposes of section 39 (directions in respect of failure to comply with ongoing registration conditions) and section 41 (de-registration).

Exercise of higher education assessment functions by a designated body

56

(1) Schedule 3 makes provision—

(a) about the designation of a body to exercise the assessment functions;

(b) about oversight of the designated body by the Commission;

(2) For the purposes of this Chapter, “the assessment functions” are the functions of the Commission under section 54 (assessing the quality of higher education).

(3) Where a body has been designated under Schedule 3 to exercise the assessment functions, the functions under section 54 do not cease to be exercisable by the Commission.

Inspection of further education or training etc.

Duty of the Chief Inspector to inspect and report

57

(1) The Chief Inspector must inspect—

(a) further education or training funded or otherwise secured by the Commission;

(b) further education or training funded or otherwise secured by the Welsh Ministers;

(d) further education or training where the Commission or a local authority is contemplating giving funding to the provider of the further education or training;

(e) education or training provided for persons of compulsory school age by a tertiary education provider in Wales that is an institution within the further education sector or the higher education sector;

(f) education or training provided in Wales and specified by the Welsh Ministers in regulations (if any).

(2) Paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of subsection (1) do not apply to—

(a) education of a kind that may or must be inspected under Part 1 of the Education Act 2005 (c. 18) (school inspections), or

(b) if the funding mentioned in those paragraphs is given for a specific purpose, education or training at which that support is not directed.

(3) The Chief Inspector must publish a report of each inspection carried out under this section including views on—

(a) the quality of the education or training inspected,

(b) the standards achieved by those receiving that education or training, and

(c) whether the financial resources made available to the provider of the education or training are managed efficiently and used in a way which provides value for money.

(4) The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations,—

(a) require inspections under subsection (1) (except paragraph (d)) to be conducted at intervals specified in the regulations;

(b) require reports under subsection (3) to be made before the end of a period specified in the regulations.

(5) Before making regulations under this section the Welsh Ministers must consult—

(a) the Commission;

(b) the Chief Inspector.

Power of the Chief Inspector to inspect and report

58

(1) The Chief Inspector may inspect, and report on, any education or training described in section 57(1).

(2) The Chief Inspector may inspect, and report on, any education or training—

(a) which is not of a kind described in section 57(1), but

(b) which could be funded in one of the ways mentioned in that section,

if the provider of the education or training asks the Chief Inspector to do so.

(3) The Chief Inspector may charge for the cost of an inspection conducted under subsection (2).

(4) Subsections (3) to (5) of section 57 apply to a report under subsection (1) as they apply to a report under that section.

(5) The Chief Inspector may arrange for a report of an inspection carried out as a result of a request under subsection (2) to be published.

Duty to provide information and advice to the Commission

59

(1) This section applies in relation to education or training described in section 57(1) that is funded or otherwise secured by the Commission.

(2) The Chief Inspector must keep the Commission informed about—

(a) the quality of the education or training to which this section applies,

(b) the standards achieved by those receiving that education or training, and

(c) whether the financial resources made available to those providing it are managed efficiently and used so as to provide value for money.

(3) When asked to do so by the Commission, the Chief Inspector must—

(a) give the Commission advice on such matters, relating to education or training to which this section applies, as the Commission may specify;

(b) inspect such education or training, or such class of education or training, to which this section applies as the Commission may specify;

Duty to provide information and advice to the Welsh Ministers

60

(1) This section applies in relation to education and training described in section 57(1) that is not funded or otherwise secured by the Commission.

(2) The Chief Inspector must keep the Welsh Ministers informed about—

(a) the quality of the education or training to which this section applies,

(b) the standards achieved by those receiving that education or training, and

(c) whether the financial resources made available to those providing it are managed efficiently and used so as to provide value for money.

(3) When asked to do so by the Welsh Ministers, the Chief Inspector must—

(a) give the Welsh Ministers advice on such matters, relating to education or training to which this section applies, as the Welsh Ministers may specify;

(b) inspect such education or training, or such class of education or training, to which this section applies as the Welsh Ministers may specify;

Additional functions of the Chief Inspector

61

(1) The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations, confer other functions on the Chief Inspector in connection with the education or training described in section 57(1).

(2) The functions conferred by the regulations may (among other things) include functions with respect to training of or for teachers, lecturers, trainers or other persons engaged in the provision of such education or training.

Action plans following inspections by the Chief Inspector

62

(1) This section applies if the Chief Inspector publishes a report of an inspection.

(2) But it does not apply to a report of an inspection conducted—

(a) as a result of a request under section 58(2), or

(b) under section 63.

(3) The person responsible for the management of the provider of the education or training which is the subject of the report must prepare a written statement of the action which the person proposes to take in the light of the report and the period within which the person proposes to take it.

(4) The person making the statement must publish it.

(5) Subsection (6) applies if—

(a) a person subject to the duties in subsections (3) and (4) is the governing body of a registered provider, and

(b) the education or training which is the subject of the report relates to the provider’s category of registration.

(6) Compliance with the duties in subsections (3) and (4) is to be treated as an ongoing registration condition that applies to the registered provider for the purposes of section 39 (directions in respect of failure to comply with ongoing registration conditions) and section 41 (de-registration).

(7) Subsection (8) applies if the education or training which is the subject of the report is funded by the Commission or the Welsh Ministers under Part 3 of this Act.

(8) Compliance with the duties in subsections (3) and (4) is to be treated as a requirement of the terms and conditions of funding under this Act.

Area inspections

63

(1) The Chief Inspector may inspect—

(a) the quality and availability of a description of education or training, in a specified area in Wales, for persons who are aged 15 or over,

(b) the standards achieved by those receiving that education or training, and

(c) whether the financial resources made available to those providing that education or training are managed efficiently and used in a way which provides value for money.

(2) The Chief Inspector must carry out an inspection of the type described in subsection (1) (“an area inspection”) if requested to do so by—

(a) the Commission;

(b) the Welsh Ministers.

(3) The education or training that may be made the subject of an area inspection is any education or training described in section 57 or within the remit of the Chief Inspector as a result of any other enactment.

(4) But the power to require the Chief Inspector to carry out an area inspection may only be exercised—

(a) in the case of the Commission, in respect of a description of education or training funded or otherwise secured by the Commission;

(b) in the case of the Welsh Ministers, in respect of a description of education or training other than education or training funded or otherwise secured by the Commission.

(5) An area inspection may extend to considering—

(a) the manner in which any financial resources have been applied by a person described in subsection (6) in respect of the education or training inspected, and

(b) whether any such financial resources have been applied in a way which provides value for money.

(6) The persons mentioned in subsection (5) are—

(a) the Commission;

(b) the Welsh Ministers;

(7) The following persons must provide such information as the Chief Inspector may reasonably require in connection with the inspection—

(a) persons responsible for the management of any provider of education or training which is the subject of an area inspection;

(b) any local authority within the area which is the subject of an area inspection;

(d) the Welsh Ministers.

(8) On completing an area inspection, the Chief Inspector must publish a report.

(9) The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations—

(a) make further provision with respect to the duty to provide information imposed by this section;

(b) require reports under subsection (8) to be published before the end of a period specified in the regulations.

(10) For provision on reporting on sixth forms found to be causing concern in an area inspection, see sections 44C and 44E of the Education Act 2005 (c. 18).

(11) In subsection (1)—

“persons who are aged 15” (“personau sy’n 15 oed”)includes persons for whom education is being provided at a school who will attain that age in the current school year;

“specified” (“penodedig”)means— in the case of an area inspection requested under subsection (2), specified in the request; in the case of an area inspection carried out by the Chief Inspector other than by request, specified by the Chief Inspector.

Right of entry and offences

64

(1) When conducting an inspection under this Chapter, the Chief Inspector has, at all reasonable times—

(a) a right of entry to premises on which the education or training being inspected is provided;

(b) a right of entry to premises of the provider of that education or training which are used in connection with that provision;

(c) a right to inspect, and take copies of, any records kept by that person, and any other documents containing information relating to the education or training, which the inspector requires for the purposes of the inspection.

(2) In respect of education or training provided by an employer in the workplace, the right of entry conferred by subsection (1) may be exercised only if the employer has been given reasonable notice.

(3) The right to inspect conferred by subsection (1)(c) includes the right to have access to, and to inspect and check the operation of, any computer and any associated apparatus or material which is or has been in use in connection with the records or documents in question.

(4) That right also includes the right to such assistance from—

(a) the person by whom or on whose behalf the computer is or has been so used, or

(b) any person having charge of, or otherwise concerned with the operation of, the computer, apparatus or material,

as the Chief Inspector may reasonably require.

(5) It is an offence wilfully to obstruct the Chief Inspector in the exercise of functions in relation to an inspection under this Chapter.

(6) A person guilty of such an offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

(7) The powers conferred by this section do not include the power to enter a dwelling without the agreement of the occupier.

(8) In this section, “premises” means premises in Wales or England.

Surveys and studies

65

(1) The Commission may direct the Chief Inspector to carry out—

(a) a survey of Wales, or of an area within Wales specified in the direction, in respect of matters specified in the direction relating to policy concerned with further education or training;

(b) a comparative study of the provision made outside Wales in respect of matters specified in the direction relating to further education or training.

(2) The Chief Inspector may, without being directed to, carry out a survey or study of that kind.

Annual reports

66

(1) The annual report of the Chief Inspector required by section 21(1)(a) of the Education Act 2005 (c. 18) must include an account of the exercise of functions of the Chief Inspector under this Chapter.

(2) The power conferred by that section to make other reports includes a power to make reports with respect to matters relating to education or training described in section 57(1).

Annual plan of the Chief Inspector

67

(1) The Chief Inspector must, for each financial year, prepare a plan setting out estimates of⁠—

(a) the expenditure necessary, in the financial year to which the plan relates, in order to secure that the functions of the Chief Inspector are exercised effectively, and

(b) the income which the Chief Inspector will receive in that financial year and which may be applied towards meeting the expenses of the Chief Inspector.

(2) The plan must contain proposals for the management of any funds which may be provided to the Chief Inspector in that financial year under—

(a) section 68 of this Act (funding by the Commission), and

(b) section 104(4) of the Government of Wales Act 1998 (c. 38) (funding by the Welsh Ministers).

(3) The plan must be submitted, for the purposes of consultation, to—

(a) the Commission, and

(b) the Welsh Ministers,

by such time before the beginning of the financial year to which it relates as they may jointly direct.

(4) The Chief Inspector may publish the plan after it has been approved by—

(a) the Commission, and

(b) the Welsh Ministers.

Funding of inspections and reports on further education and training etc.

68

(1) The Commission must provide such funding to the Chief Inspector as it considers appropriate for the exercise of the Chief Inspector’s functions, so far as the functions relate to education or training that is funded or otherwise secured by the Commission.

(2) In deciding what funding it considers appropriate, the Commission must have regard in particular to what the Commission considers the Chief Inspector needs to spend in order to exercise the functions.

(3) Before the beginning of each financial year, the Commission must consult the Chief Inspector about the funding it is to provide to the Chief Inspector in that financial year.

(4) The Commission must—

(a) approve such part (or parts) of the plan prepared by the Chief Inspector under section 67 as relate to functions in respect of which the Commission is required to provide funding under this section, and

(b) determine the amount of the funding it will provide under this section in accordance with the plan in so far as it is approved by the Commission.

(5) But before it approves the plan under subsection (4) the Commission may require the Chief Inspector to modify the plan.

(6) Section 104 of the Government of Wales Act 1998 (c. 38) is amended as follows—

(a) after subsection (1) insert—

(1A) But the Welsh Ministers are not responsible for providing funding to the Chief Inspector for the discharge of the Chief Inspector’s functions under Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 so far as they relate to education or training that is funded or otherwise secured by the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research.

;

(b) in subsection (4A), for paragraph (a) substitute—

(a) approve such part (or parts) of the plan prepared by the Chief Inspector under section 67 of the Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 as relate to functions in respect of which they are required to provide funding under this section, and

CHAPTER 3 — FURTHER ENFORCEMENT AND PROCEDURAL PROVISIONS

Intervention in the conduct of further education institutions

Grounds for intervention

69

For the purposes of sections 70 and 71, the grounds for intervention in the conduct of a tertiary education provider in Wales that is an institution within the further education sector are as follows—

(a) the provider’s affairs have been or are being mismanaged by its governing body;

(b) the provider’s governing body has failed to comply with a duty under any enactment;

(c) the provider’s governing body has acted or is proposing to act unreasonably in the exercise of its functions under any enactment;

(d) the provider is performing significantly less well than it might in all the circumstances reasonably be expected to perform, or is failing or likely to fail to give an acceptable standard of education or training.

Powers to intervene

70

(1) If the Welsh Ministers are satisfied that one or more of the grounds for intervention exist in relation to a tertiary education provider in Wales that is an institution within the further education sector, the Welsh Ministers may give a direction to the provider’s governing body.

(2) Before giving a direction under this section, the Welsh Ministers must consult the Commission.

(3) A direction under this section may—

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