Part 1: The Office for Students Directions Section 77: Secretary of State’s power to give directions
Subsection (1) gives the Secretary of State the power to give general directions to the OfS about the performance of any of its functions. The power is exercised by regulations and is subject to the limitations in subsection (3). When giving directions the Secretary of State must have regard to the need to protect the institutional autonomy of English higher education providers.
	The Secretary of State may only exercise the powers in this section in relation to a particular higher education provider when giving directions which are financial support directions, as defined in subsection (5).
	The OfS is under a statutory obligation to comply with any directions given under this section.
	This section forms part of the law of England and Wales.