The Power to Award Degrees etc. (College of Legal Practice Limited) (Amendment) Order 2025 extends the College of Legal Practice Limited's authorization to award degrees until April 29, 2028.
The Office for Students, after reviewing the quality of the College's programs and adhering to statutory procedures, amended the 2021 order to reflect this extension.
The amendment does not include an impact assessment as it was deemed to not affect businesses, civil society, or the public sector.
Arguments For
Extending Educational Opportunities: The extension allows the College of Legal Practice Limited to continue offering degree programs, providing students with access to legal education.
Maintaining Educational Standards: The Office for Students' review and approval process ensures that the College continues to meet the required quality standards for higher education.
Streamlined Regulatory Process: Extending the authorization simplifies administrative processes for both the College and the Office for Students.
Legal and Historical Basis: The amendment is made under the powers conferred by sections 42(1) and 44(1) of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017, following established procedures for such alterations.
Arguments Against
Potential for Regulatory Capture: Extended authorization without rigorous review might potentially lead to complacency and lower standards.
Resource Allocation: The Office for Students needs to justify the resources dedicated to overseeing an extended period of authorization.
Alternative Approaches: A more stringent review process or conditions attached to the extension could ensure accountability and quality control.
Unintended Consequences: Failure to adequately address identified issues during the extended period might negatively affect student outcomes.
- Citation and commencement This Order may be cited as the Power to Award Degrees etc. (College of Legal Practice Limited) (Amendment) Order 2025 and shall come into force on 30th April 2025.
This section provides the official title of the legal document and its effective date, which is April 30, 2025.
The title specifies that it amends a prior order related to the College of Legal Practice Limited.
- Variation of the Power to Award Degrees etc. (College of Legal Practice Limited) Order 2021 (1) The Power to Award Degrees etc. (College of Legal Practice Limited) Order 2021 is varied in accordance with paragraph (2). (2) For article 3, substitute— “3. College of Legal Practice Limited shall only be competent to grant the awards specified in article 2 of this Order for a fixed term beginning on 1st February 2022 and expiring at the end of the day on 29th April 2028”
This section details the specific amendment to the 2021 Order.
Subsection (1) states that changes will be made as outlined in subsection (2).
Subsection (2) replaces Article 3 of the 2021 Order, extending the College's authorization to grant degrees from April 30, 2025 to April 29, 2028.
EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Order) This Order varies the Power to Award Degrees etc. (College of Legal Practice Limited) Order 2021 to extend the expiry of College of Legal Practice Limited’s authorisation to award degrees from 30th April 2025 to the end of the day on 29th April 2028. An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on businesses and civil society organisations. The instrument has no impact on the public sector.
This explanatory note summarizes the Order's effect—extending the College's degree-awarding authorization.
It also clarifies that no impact assessment was conducted because the amendment is not expected to affect businesses, civil society organizations, or the public sector.