September 2026 edition

Hello and welcome to our latest education bulletin.

With a new academic year underway, September often feels a bit like New Year for the education sector. New students are arriving, priorities are taking shape, and institutions are preparing for the months ahead.

Smita Jamdar

Partner and Head of Education

In this edition, we've brought together a selection of insights, resources and conversations that have caught our attention over the past couple of months. From governance and regulation to graduate outcomes, student protection and freedom of speech, we've highlighted some of the issues currently driving discussion in education.

We also share details of a new governance webinar for independent providers, reflections from sector podcasts featuring both Smita Jamdar and Paul Greatrix, and a useful admissions resource that may be of interest to widening participation and EDI teams.

As always, we hope this edition gives you a few useful insights for the academic year ahead. If any of the topics resonate with your institution, or you'd simply like to talk through a particular issue, our team is always happy to help.

Get in touch

Catch up with the Extenuating Circumstances podcast

In case you missed it when we launched it earlier this year, the Extenuating Circumstances higher education podcast sees Paul Greatrix in conversation with senior figures from across the sector about some of the biggest legal, regulatory and strategic issues facing higher education today.

The discussions go beyond the headlines, exploring how sector leaders are responding to change in practice, the challenges they're facing, and their perspectives on what lies ahead for universities and higher education providers.

Whether you're interested in regulation, governance, leadership or wider sector developments, the podcast offers practical insights and thought-provoking conversations from those at the heart of higher education.

Listen now

Smita joins Wonkhe to discuss key sector challenges

Continuing the theme of sector conversations, Smita Jamdar recently joined The Wonkhe Show podcast to discuss two issues that are attracting increasing attention across higher education: graduate employment outcomes and the impact of university closure on students.

The discussion explores Universities UK's plans to strengthen graduate employment, alongside new research examining what institutional closure can mean in practice for students, and whether existing student protection arrangements are sufficient.

For leaders, governors and higher education professionals, the episode offers valuable insight into some of the policy and regulatory questions shaping the future of the sector.

Listen to the discussion

A refreshed Code of Governance for independent providers

Many independent providers will already be aware that the Independent Higher Education (IHE) Code of Governance has been refreshed following extensive consultation across the sector. We're pleased to have supported that process, with Paul Greatrix and Joanna Forbes contributing to discussions around the revised code.

The updated code responds to significant changes in the higher education landscape and provides a practical framework to help independent providers demonstrate effective governance in an increasingly complex regulatory environment. While remaining closely aligned with the Committee of University Chairs' Code of Higher Education Governance, it also recognises the distinctive structures, ownership models and missions that exist across the independent sector.

For institutions, the refreshed code serves as a timely reminder to review governance arrangements, board effectiveness and decision-making processes. As expectations continue to evolve, ensuring governance frameworks remain robust, proportionate and aligned to institutional objectives will be an important area of focus over the coming years.

If you'd like to understand the updated code in more detail, join our upcoming webinar with IHE, where Paul and Joanna will work through the code principle by principle, and explain how independent higher education providers can apply it across the governance cycle.

Resource Spotlight: Supporting Fair Admissions

We're always keen to share initiatives that we think may be of interest to our education contacts. One such resource is a new, free toolkit developed by researchers at Queen's University Belfast, designed to help universities review how they approach home, heritage and community language A Levels within their admissions policies.

The toolkit aims to support institutions in aligning admissions policies with EDI best practice, while also ensuring that information is clearly communicated to applicants.

It may be particularly useful for providers with widening participation or EDI objectives, as well as those committed to the principles of Universities UK's Fair Admissions Code of Practice.

Access the Toolokit

For further information, please contact project lead Emma Humphries.

Our latest education thoughts and insights

OfS Freedom of Speech Complaints Scheme: What Higher Education Providers Need to Know

UKVI Compliance Changes: What the New Framework Means for Universities

The EHRC Code of Practice on Services and its implications for higher and further education institutions

Handling Reports About Harassment and Sexual Misconduct – Good Practice Framework

Is Higher Education Governance Keeping Pace with the Challenges Facing Universities and Colleges?

Academic Collaboration and Copyright: Key Lessons from Boghossian v IOP Publishing

Regulatory Policy Impact or Coincidence? – The Wonderful (& Frightening) World of HE

Other thoughts and insights

Accessibility by Design: What the ASA’s Guidance Means for Your Business

The RNLI’s Redundancy Dispute: What Can we Learn?

Events and webinars

The Employment Rights Act 2025: What’s changing on harassment?

This webinar will focus on the Act’s substantial updates to harassment law, including enhanced sexual harassment obligations and strengthened protections for workers.

As always, we encourage you to engage with us through feedback, suggestions, and discussions. Please get in touch with any queries regarding the subjects discussed in this edition or any topics you would like to see in the future.

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Updated: September 2025

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