Schedules Schedule 6: English higher education information: designated body
Part 1 of this Schedule provides for the designation of a body suitable to perform the information functions set out in sections 64 and 65. Paragraph 1 provides that the OfS may consult about whether there is a body that is suitable to perform these functions and that the Secretary of State may direct the OfS to undertake such a consultation. It sets out the stakeholders who must be consulted in either instance.
	Paragraph 2 concerns the making of a recommendation by the OfS and only applies if the OfS has consulted in line with paragraph 1. The OfS must consider whether there is a body suitable to perform these information functions, and if only one body is identified that body must be recommended to the Secretary of State. If more than one body is identified as suitable, the OfS will recommend whichever body it considers would be appropriate to perform these functions. If no suitable body is identified, the OfS cannot make a recommendation. The OfS must notify the Secretary of State of its decision and publish the decision.
	Paragraph 3 provides that where a body is recommended, the Secretary of State can only designate that body if the Secretary of State considers that the body is suitable to perform these information functions. The Secretary of State is required to notify the body, and publish notice of the designation, before the designation takes effect. If the Secretary of State decides not to designate the recommended body, the Secretary of State must publish the reasons for not doing so.
	Paragraph 4 sets out the criteria that a body must meet in order to be suitable to perform these information functions.
	Paragraph 5 enables the Secretary of State, by notice, to remove a designation if the Secretary of State is satisfied that removal would be appropriate or the designated body consents to the removal. The Secretary of State is required to consult specified stakeholders before removing the designation and to consider any relevant information provided by the OfS. The notice must include specified information and be published.
	Part 2 of this Schedule provides for the oversight of the designated body by the OfS. Paragraph 8 requires the body to prepare and send to the OfS an annual report on its performance. Paragraph 9 requires the OfS to prepare and send to the Secretary of State a triennial report; it specifies the matters that the report must consider and the persons whose views must be had regard to in preparing the triennial report.
	Paragraph 10 requires the OfS to inform the Secretary of State if it has significant concerns about how the designated body is performing its duty or the continued suitability of the body to carry out that duty.