The Department for Education has announced that Lord Wharton of Yarm has resigned as chair of the Office for Students (OfS).
Susan Lapworth, chief executive of the OfS, said:
'Lord Wharton joined the OfS in early 2021, as the country and the higher education sector began to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic. During his time as chair, the OfS has continued to develop as a regulator. We reset our approach to regulating quality, launched our Equality of Opportunity Risk Register and reported on the financial pressures affecting students and institutions.
'I’m grateful for his support for colleagues across the OfS during this period, and for all his work with our important sector.'
Appointments to OfS board are made by ministers, under schedule 1 of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017. The process to appoint an interim chair is underway, and the Department for Education will announce a permanent replacement in due course.