Education secretary Damian Hinds has defended his right to ¡°speak out¡± on unconditional offers, accusing university leaders who attacked his intervention as unlawful of ¡°trying to justify practices which are damaging the integrity¡± of higher education.

In April, Mr Hinds wrote to 23 universities calling on them to stop issuing ¡°conditional unconditional¡± offers, which become unconditional only when an applicant selects the university as their firm choice and which have been criticised by the Office for Students as akin to ¡°pressure selling¡±.

The growth of unconditional offers ¨C seen by many as linked to the government¡¯s decision to abolish student number controls and create an unrestricted market in recruitment ¨C has raised concerns about the impact on students¡¯ final A-level grades.

David Green, the University of Worcester vice-chancellor, had Mr Hinds¡¯ intervention as ¡°anti-democratic, untrue and [running] directly against his own government¡¯s legislation¡±. Universities have long been granted autonomy on admissions under legislation, most recently in the Higher Education and Research Act 2017.

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Professor Green said his university had taken legal advice that stated ¡°that the secretary of state¡¯s actions are highly likely to prove unlawful should they be tested by judicial review¡±.

The Department for Education issued a statement on 22?May in which it said that 19 of the 23 universities challenged had written back to Mr Hinds ¡°with the majority making positive comments¡±, adding that ¡°at least 15?universities¡± had ¡°ended or pledged to review their use of ¡®conditional unconditional¡¯ offers¡±.

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Mr Hinds said: ¡°Prospective students should have a choice of where they study, but ¡®conditional unconditional¡¯ offers entice them to restrict their choices, in favour of one university. I?maintain this is bad practice: bad in the end for both students and universities, and urge universities using them to stop.

¡°While I?am pleased that many university leaders are taking the issue seriously, it is a shame there are still some trying to justify practices which are damaging the integrity of our higher education and students¡¯ interests.

¡°I make no apology for speaking out as I?have done. I?could not stand idly by watching questionable practices spread and educational standards slide.¡±

He added: ¡°It is my job to make sure the education system works to help everyone make the most of their potential, and I?am not afraid to get my hands dirty for this.¡±

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john.morgan@timeshighereducation.com