Many thousands of students study in independent colleges in the UK but many of these colleges fall outside statutory inspection systems and are not covered by public reporting schemes. How then should a student go about choosing an independent college?

Since its establishment in 1984, the British Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education – the BAC for short – has set and monitored standards in independent colleges in Britain. By the beginning of the 2004 academic year, BAC had accredited 160 independent colleges, which between them enrol more than 40,000 students. The BAC now accredits over 200 colleges.

A student, whether from Britain or overseas, deciding to study at a BAC-accredited institution can be assured that it has been inspected by a team of experienced and qualified inspectors. The criteria used by them are laid down by the BAC Council which includes representatives of the chief bodies responsible for the maintenance of educational standards in the UK – universities, colleges, national validating bodies, and public and professional examining boards and also those, such as the British Council and UKCOSA, with a particular concern for overseas students.

Institutions seeking BAC accreditation must satisfy the BAC under all the following headings:

• Premises and Health and Safety;
• Administration and Staffing;
• Quality Management;
• Student Welfare arrangements; and
• Teaching and Learning: Delivery and Resources.

The BAC also requests information concerning the financial affairs and legal status of institutions seeking accreditation. Recently established colleges are accredited for a maximum of one year in the first instance, and must be re-inspected before receiving full accreditation. Once fully accredited, each institution is required to submit to the BAC an annual report on developments at the institution and is fully re-inspected every five years.

The need to ensure that the BAC should provide an independent and objective assessment of standards in the independent sector is recognised by the requirement that Council members be nominated by recognised educational and other relevant bodies with no direct involvement or financial interest in the independent sector of education. Scrutiny of applications for, and decisions on, accreditation are the responsibility of the Accreditation and Recognition Committee (ARC) which reports to the Council and meets four times a year. The ARC consists of Council members and others with experience in further and higher education institutions or inspection experience. The Committee is also responsible for the initial appointment of inspectors and their deployment on inspections. More than 60 inspectors have so far been used on inspection work.

Over the years, the BAC has cooperated closely with the British Council’s English in Britain Accreditation Scheme for English Language Schools and with the Open and Distance Learning Quality Council. In 1990, the three organisations produced the first Directory of Accredited Independent Colleges in Britain. It contained the names of almost 350 colleges. In his introduction to the brochure, the Secretary of State for Education and Science welcomed the work of the three accrediting bodies. “The voluntary system of accreditation they have established,” he noted, “is the only public guarantee of standards in independent institutions of further and higher education in the UK.”

More recently the BAC has been closely involved with the development of the new DfES (now DCSF) Register of Education Providers, working in partnership with colleagues in Universities UK, the Association of Colleges and other bodies concerned with Higher and Further Education. The Register, which covers providers in both the state funded and private sectors, was launched in January 2005 and registration is now a requirement for colleges wishing to have visas for study issued for overseas students.  All BAC-accredited colleges are automatically placed on the register.

An essential service is being provided by the BAC. More and more individuals and organisations, including government departments, need to establish in an objective way the bona fides of an independent college. The BAC is able to provide an objective and independent assessment of an institution and do so on a continuing basis. Further significant changes are underway in Further and Higher Education in Britain. It is vital that appropriate educational standards are maintained and are seen to be maintained. Anyone thinking of studying at an independent college should look for the BAC logo and make sure that the college chosen is accredited.

Further details of the work of the BAC and a current list of accredited institutions may be obtained by contacting:

Chief Executive, BAC
44 Bedford Row
London WC1R 4LL
Tel: 020 7447 2584
Fax: 020 7447 2585
Email: info@the-bac.org
Website: www.the-bac.org

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