Fresh questions have been raised about the government¡¯s ability to ensure oversight of private colleges as a for-profit institution was stripped of its right to receive public funding after a damning quality watchdog report.

West London Vocational Training College (WLVT) ¡°failed to establish the authenticity of all applicants' academic qualifications¡±, admitted some students who were ¡°not demonstrably qualified¡± to enter their course, admitted some students who ¡°had not demonstrably met the English language proficiency requirements for entry¡± and admitted some students after qualifications awarding body Pearson had blocked it from registering new entrants, according to on its centre in Alperton, northwest London.

The report followed a QAA investigation into WLVT¡¯s Cardiff centre that found that large numbers of students did not meet entry standards, that checks on attendance and plagiarism were inadequate and that a former principal falsely claimed to have a PhD from the?University of Cambridge.

The QAA¡¯s enquiries prompted a in the House of Lords from crossbench peer Baroness Wolf of Dulwich, who is Sir Roy Griffiths professor of public sector management at King¡¯s College London.

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She asked whether the QAA's investigation had led the government ¡°to reconsider or amend current measures relating to alternative providers; and if not, why not¡±.

Baroness Evans of Bowes Park, replying for the government in an answer published on 1 July, said: ¡°The government has revoked West London Vocational Training College¡¯s designation for student support funding for higher education courses in England with effect from 3 June. Affected students will be supported so they can continue their studies with as limited disruption as possible.

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¡°The cross-agency action in this case demonstrates the government¡¯s continuing strong focus on improving quality and value for money across the Alternative Provider (AP) sector.¡±

The report into WLVT¡¯s Alperton centre, conducted by the QAA under its Concerns scheme, also says that Pearson, the awarding body for Higher National courses, had ¡°blocked certification¡± for the college¡¯s provision of the courses in November 2015 and confirmed the move in February 2016.

¡°Nevertheless, despite this block on the registration of new students, there was evidence to indicate that five students were admitted to the HND course at Alperton in March and April 2016,¡± the QAA report says.

According to its accounts, WLVT made a profit of ?128,541 in 2015. The owners of the company are Bharat Bageja and Indra Bageja, both of Lancaster Road, Northolt, London, according to documents lodged at Companies House.

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john.morgan@tesglobal.com