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Dearing Report

Government Report

The Dearing Report, formally the Report of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education, was a 1997 UK report chaired by Ron Dearing that reviewed the purpose, funding and future shape of higher education. It recommended introducing tuition fees for university students, a significant break from previous free higher education policy, alongside recommendations on widening participation and quality assurance, and its funding recommendations were substantially adopted by the incoming Labour government.

Facts
Classification
Policy Type
Funding or Finance Policy 1
Education Level
Bachelor or Equivalent (ISCED 6) 1
Education Level
Master or Equivalent (ISCED 7) 1
Education Level
Doctoral or Equivalent (ISCED 8) 1
Key Provision
Undergraduate tuition to move from full government grant funding to a mixed system with tuition fees supported by low interest government loans. 1
Enacted / Adopted Year
1997 1
FAQs

Is the Dearing Report the same as the Dearing Review of the National Curriculum?

No. Ron Dearing led a separate National Curriculum review appointed in April 1993.

No. Sir Ron Dearing led more than one inquiry. In April 1993 he was appointed to lead a review of the National Curriculum, which is a separate piece of work from the 1997 report on higher education described on this page. The name Dearing is shared, but the two reviews had different subjects and different dates.

Did the Dearing Report recommend that higher education be reviewed again?

Yes. It called for a new UK-wide advisory review after five years and then every ten years.

Yes. The committee recommended that in five years' time, and then every ten years, the government set up a UK-wide independent advisory committee to assess the state of higher education. That committee would advise on how higher education is financed and on any changes needed to the level of student support and to contributions from graduates in employment.
Sources
1. Dearing Report - Wikipedia
  • Introduction
    published in 1997
  • Findings
    a mixed system in which tuition fees, supported by low interest government loans, are raised
  • intro of the article
    The Dearing Report, formally known as the reports of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education, is a series of major reports into the future of Higher Education in the United Kingdom, published in 1997.
  • Description, policy-kind classification
    The Dearing Report, formally the Report of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education, was a 1997 UK report chaired by Ron Dearing that reviewed the purpose, funding and future shape of higher education.
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