The Disabled Student Commitment Advisory Group hosts a significant event at the House of Commons today, marking the official launch of the Competence Standards Guidance (CSG).
The Disabled Student Commitment Advisory Group hosts a significant event at the House of Commons today, marking the official launch of the Competence Standards Guidance (CSG).
The launch represents a crucial step forward in supporting disabled students across UK higher education institutions, building on momentum generated since the Disabled Students Commitment was established in October 2023.
Professor Deborah Johnston, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Framework) at London South Bank University and Chair of the Disabled Student Commitment’s constituent groups, is leading the event.
“The Competence Standards Guidance provides essential clarity for institutions implementing competence standards that are both rigorous and inclusive,” said Professor Johnston. “This guidance helps higher education providers distinguish between competence standards and assessment methods, ensuring proper reasonable adjustments can be made while maintaining academic integrity. With 21 institutions already signed up to the Commitment, I encourage more HEPs to join us in this important work to ensure disabled students can both access and enjoy the full benefits of higher education.”
The CSG and User Guide help Higher Education Providers (HEPs) navigate the complex landscape of academic standards, particularly following the July 2024 EHRC Advice Note relating to the Abrahart case. The guidance supports providers to understand what constitutes a genuine competence standard versus provisions, criteria and practices that are subject to reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010.
Building on Established Progress
The launch follows the publication of the Commitment’s Year-One report in September 2024, which highlighted significant progress in the sector’s efforts to “inform, influence and challenge” the nature of support provided for disabled students.
Since its inception, the voluntary, non-regulatory scheme has attracted 21 HEPs representing diverse institutional profiles in terms of mission, size, and location. These institutions have committed to implementing the 26 principles relevant to HEPs within the Commitment’s framework of 43 total principles.
Participating institutions develop and publish annual action plans, taking a tailored approach informed by direct consultation with their disabled student populations.
Sector-Wide Engagement
The Commitment has also catalysed action among sector agencies, regulators, and government departments. Notable developments include:
- UCAS enhancements to information, advice, and guidance for disabled students
- QAA updates to guidance for Subject Benchmark Statement Advisory Group members
- Advance HE’s inclusion of requirements for Fellows to demonstrate understanding of learners in the context of disability through the relaunched Professional Standards Framework
Understanding Competence Standards
The new guidance clarifies the legal definition of a competence standard as “an academic, medical or other standard applied for the purposes of determining whether or not a person has a particular level of competence or ability” (Equality Act 2010, Schedule 13).
A key insight from the guidance is the distinction between competence standards, which are exempt from the duty to make reasonable adjustments, and provisions, criteria and practices (PCPs), such as methods of assessment, which must be adjusted to avoid substantial disadvantage to disabled students.
The guidance outlines how competence standards must be clearly defined, relevant to course objectives, proportionate, and applied equally to all students.
Looking Forward
Today’s House of Commons event brings together key stakeholders, including members of the Core Planning Group, Advisory Group, Partnership Group, and the Student Advisory Panel, which comprises 15 current disabled students.
The launch of the Competence Standards Guidance represents a significant milestone in the Commitment’s ongoing work to ensure that disabled students can both access and fully enjoy the benefits of higher education, regardless of funding and resource constraints across the sector.
HEPs interested in signing up to the Commitment can access a mapping template shared in the Year-One report to support their implementation process.
Read the Competence Standards Guidance and find out more about the user guide
Notes:
- The Disabled Students Commitment is a collaborative initiative bringing together higher education providers, sector bodies, regulators, and government to improve support for disabled students in UK higher education.
- The Competence Standards Guidance and User Guide have been developed by Advance HE as part of the Disabled Student Commitment. The documents provide comprehensive guidance on interpreting and implementing competence standards in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, particularly in light of the University of Bristol v Abrahart [2024] case and subsequent EHRC Advice Note published in July 2024.
