Universities told they must act on standards and abuse

John Blake will become director of fair access next month
John Blake will become director of fair access next month

Universities must escalate action against sexual harassment next year, the student watchdog will say today.

It comes as The Times has learnt that the office’s new director for fair access, who starts work next year, is planning a “crusade” against campuses.

A minority of universities are letting students down and there are pockets of poor provision at elite institutions, the Office for Students (OfS) says in its annual review. Tackling sexual and racial harassment — alongside improved quality and equality of opportunity — will be a priority for universities in 2022, the regulator states.

John Blake, a former teacher and academy trust leader, will become director of fair access next month, a new chief executive of the watchdog starts in April and a free speech