Key performance measure 3

‘We are relentlessly focused on securing positive higher education experiences for all students. We drive improvement across the sector, recognising that while much provision is already excellent, there is room to improve further.’ (The OfS strategy 2025 to 2030)

Supporting institutions to improve the quality of their provision is core to our 2025 to 2030 strategy. We work to drive improvement through our quality assessments, including quality investigations, and the Teaching Excellence Framework. We also work to drive higher quality through our published guidance and by sharing best practice.

This KPM reports the proportion of accountable officers who agree that our regulation of quality is leading to quality improvements at their institution. Accountable officers are typically head of their provider and usually have executive oversight of quality and overall responsibility for complying with OfS regulation. Their perceptions of the impact of our work are therefore a useful indication of our performance.

KPM 3 shows that, in 2026, 43 per cent of accountable officers said that OfS regulation of quality had prompted their institution to make changes that led to improvements in quality within the previous 12 months.  

This KPM draws on the results of our stakeholder survey of accountable officers at institutions registered with the OfS. This is a voluntary, online survey administered annually by an external supplier (Savanta) on behalf of the OfS. The first survey was conducted in early 2026 and it will be repeated at the same time annually. 

All accountable officers were invited to complete a five to ten minute survey by email. Respondents received an initial invitation from Savanta, followed by two reminders each a week apart, and a final reminder directly from the OfS. Of 428 accountable officers invited, 171 completed the survey (40 per cent response rate). The responses were representative across institution types.

This KPM shows the proportion of accountable officers who ‘strongly agree’ or ‘somewhat agree’ with the following statement:

‘The OfS’s regulation of quality has prompted my institution to make changes that improve the quality of education for our students in the last 12 months.’