Office for Students: Contract for Fit and Proper (FPP) checks

When providers of higher education in England apply to register with the Office for Students, the registration team conduct FPP checks on key individuals as part of the initial registration process and on an ongoing basis as part of the ongoing conditions of registration. The supplier is expected to provide a way of enabling the OfS to check whether key individuals at each provider applying to register with the OfS are fit and proper. The checks may be conducted on individuals the OfS consider relevant and would include roles such as (but not limited to) the accountable officer, the Chair of the governing body or the company secretary.

The type of checks to be conducted may vary between individuals and could include any or all of the following:

•Current disqualification as a director

•Current disqualification as a charity trustee or trustee for a charity

•Undischarged bankrupt

•Unspent criminal conviction

•Adverse findings in relevant civil procedure

•Adverse findings in disciplinary hearings

•Adverse findings in the education sector

•Adverse findings for use of public funds

•Previously being refused licence to trade

•Guilty under s.199 ECTA [2023]

•Criminal Offence in relation to tax

•Insolvency or liquidation

•Previous bankruptcy

•Previous removal as Trustee of Charity or Charity Trustee