Today’s report  from Professor Sir Deian Hopkin on student loans delays this autumn highlights a number of failings and avoidable problems, and makes recommendations for action, including the creation of a Stakeholder Forum to ensure greater customer involvement in future.

Alice Hynes, CEO of the higher education representative body GuildHE, said:

“Sir Deian has found many circumstances which have caused real student hardship. Without the prompt action and flexibility of higher education institutions in responding to the difficult situation many students found themselves in this would have been even more severe.  It is critical that the recommendations proposed translate into genuine change.  Action should be taken straight away to make sure this situation does not happen again, not to mention helping those students who are still waiting for funds this year. We trust the Student Loans Company is prepared to take forward the recommendations proposed.

“GuildHE members will want to be active in informing future planning and have earlier warning of any issues that arise. GuildHE is therefore pleased to be able to respond to the proposed Stakeholder Forum and SLC’s desire for closer working and improved communications between its partner organisations and with its customers. Forum partners will be able to pool their knowledge of how Student Finance England is operating to share ideas about service improvements.”

For more information, please contact:

Alice Hynes

Tel: 020 7387 7711
Email: alice.hynes@guildhe.ac.uk

Notes to editors

Professor Sir Deian Hopkin’s review of the delivery of student finance can be found here

GuildHE members are among the most dynamic and fastest-growing institutions in higher education. For a list of GuildHE institutions, please click here