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| Toby Young's appointment to university watchdog criticised | Toby Young's appointment to university watchdog criticised |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Writer Toby Young has faced criticism over his appointment to the board of a new higher education watchdog. | Writer Toby Young has faced criticism over his appointment to the board of a new higher education watchdog. |
| The Spectator columnist was praised by the education department for the "vital insights" his record as the founder of a free school will bring to the role. | The Spectator columnist was praised by the education department for the "vital insights" his record as the founder of a free school will bring to the role. |
| But he was branded a "Tory cheerleader" by a lecturers union and comments he made in 2012 about inclusivity have sparked a social media backlash. | But he was branded a "Tory cheerleader" by a lecturers union and comments he made in 2012 about inclusivity have sparked a social media backlash. |
| The Office for Students is due to start work in April. | The Office for Students is due to start work in April. |
| Its remit is to hold universities to account on issues like vice chancellors' pay and free speech on campus, with powers to fine universities which fail to meet the required standards. | Its remit is to hold universities to account on issues like vice chancellors' pay and free speech on campus, with powers to fine universities which fail to meet the required standards. |
| Working class students | Working class students |
| Mr Young, who co-founded the West London Free School in 2011 and runs the New School Network, is one of six new appointments to the regulator's board. | Mr Young, who co-founded the West London Free School in 2011 and runs the New School Network, is one of six new appointments to the regulator's board. |
| Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union, said: "If this organisation was to have any credibility it needed a robust board looking out for students' interests. | Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union, said: "If this organisation was to have any credibility it needed a robust board looking out for students' interests. |
| "Instead we have this announcement sneaked out at new year with Tory cheerleader Toby Young dressed up as the voice of teachers and no actual representation from staff or students." | "Instead we have this announcement sneaked out at new year with Tory cheerleader Toby Young dressed up as the voice of teachers and no actual representation from staff or students." |
| Labour MP David Lammy said on social media on Monday: "Is that Toby Young who said I was wrong to criticise Oxbridge for failing to improve access? | Labour MP David Lammy said on social media on Monday: "Is that Toby Young who said I was wrong to criticise Oxbridge for failing to improve access? |
| "The Toby Young who only got into Oxford University because his Dad rang the tutor up? | "The Toby Young who only got into Oxford University because his Dad rang the tutor up? |
| "Toby Young who slated working class students? I thought it was New Year's Day not April Fool's Day." | "Toby Young who slated working class students? I thought it was New Year's Day not April Fool's Day." |
| Critics have highlighted Mr Young's description of working class students as "stains" in a 1988 book about class. | Critics have highlighted Mr Young's description of working class students as "stains" in a 1988 book about class. |
| Left-wing journalist Paul Mason accused him of "despising" working class children - but Mr Young hit back on Twitter, saying he had "helped set up four state schools that when full will educate nearly 2,000 children". | Left-wing journalist Paul Mason accused him of "despising" working class children - but Mr Young hit back on Twitter, saying he had "helped set up four state schools that when full will educate nearly 2,000 children". |
| 'Illiterate troglodyte' | 'Illiterate troglodyte' |
| At the secondary school, he went on, more than 33% of pupils "are eligible for the pupil premium and we reserve 20% of the places at the primaries for same". | At the secondary school, he went on, more than 33% of pupils "are eligible for the pupil premium and we reserve 20% of the places at the primaries for same". |
| In a subsequent tweet, he said it was "disappointing how many members of the academic profession think universities should be regulated by just those who run them already". | In a subsequent tweet, he said it was "disappointing how many members of the academic profession think universities should be regulated by just those who run them already". |
| Comments the right-wing journalist made in a Spectator column in 2012 have also come under fire on social media, with some calling for the journalist's appointment to be blocked by higher education minister Jo Johnson. | |
| He wrote: "Schools have got to be 'inclusive' these days. That means wheelchair ramps, the complete works of Alice Walker in the school library (though no Mark Twain) and a Special Educational Needs Department that can cope with everything from Dyslexia to Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy." | He wrote: "Schools have got to be 'inclusive' these days. That means wheelchair ramps, the complete works of Alice Walker in the school library (though no Mark Twain) and a Special Educational Needs Department that can cope with everything from Dyslexia to Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy." |
| He called on the government to "repeal the Equality Act because any exam that isn't 'accessible' to a functionally illiterate troglodyte with a mental age of six will be judged to be "elitist" and therefore forbidden by Harman's Law". | He called on the government to "repeal the Equality Act because any exam that isn't 'accessible' to a functionally illiterate troglodyte with a mental age of six will be judged to be "elitist" and therefore forbidden by Harman's Law". |
| He later added a clarification to the column, saying "I'm using 'inclusive' in the broad sense to mean a dumbed down, one-size-fits-all curriculum, rather than the narrow sense of providing equal access to mainstream education for people with disabilities". | He later added a clarification to the column, saying "I'm using 'inclusive' in the broad sense to mean a dumbed down, one-size-fits-all curriculum, rather than the narrow sense of providing equal access to mainstream education for people with disabilities". |
| He had not used the word "troglodyte" as a synonym for children with special educational needs, he added. | He had not used the word "troglodyte" as a synonym for children with special educational needs, he added. |
| A Department for Education spokesman said: "Toby Young's diverse experience includes posts at Harvard and Cambridge as well as co-founding the successful West London Free School. | A Department for Education spokesman said: "Toby Young's diverse experience includes posts at Harvard and Cambridge as well as co-founding the successful West London Free School. |
| "This experience will be vital in encouraging new providers and ensuring more universities are working effectively with schools." | "This experience will be vital in encouraging new providers and ensuring more universities are working effectively with schools." |
| The Office for Students board, which includes an engineering student and the managing director of high street chemist Boots, as well as other figures from industry and education, reflects "the diverse needs of the higher education sector", the spokesman added. | The Office for Students board, which includes an engineering student and the managing director of high street chemist Boots, as well as other figures from industry and education, reflects "the diverse needs of the higher education sector", the spokesman added. |