There should be a better distribution of public funding across all higher and further education institutions, according to the latest report from the House of Lords Economics Affairs Committee.

Treating Students Fairly: The Economics of Post-School Education calls for a new deal for post-school education funding which promotes all types of learning regardless of where or how it takes place. It recommends the abolition of the Institute for Apprenticeships, increasing the powers of the Office for Students to act as a single regulator for all Level 4 and above qualifications, including for higher and degree apprenticeships, and the introduction of a single regulator for all other post-school qualifications at Level 3 and below.

The report says that reforms to university financing have failed to create an effective market in recent years allowing undergraduate degrees to dominate when this might not be in the student or the country’s best interest.  

The report also claims that reforms have led to a collapse in flexible and part-time learning recommending that maintenance support should be available for all students studying at Level 4 and above.

The government has yet to respond to the report.