Image: Shutterstock

Mark Leach

Mark is founder and Editor in Chief of Wonkhe

See full profile

wonkhe-merge — Image: Shutterstock

The first multi-university group arrives

by Mark Leach

10/09/25

15

dice-wonkhe — Image: Shutterstock

Why I wouldn’t bet against a fee rise after the election

by Mark Leach

6/06/24

shutterstock_736904560-scaled — Image: Shutterstock

Seven questions we’ll be debating at the 2024 Festival of Higher Education

by Mark Leach

22/04/24

Image: Midjourney

The sector needs to change its lobbying tactics over fees and funding

by Mark Leach

10/10/23

5

asdfg — Image: Midjourney

It’s time to take a closer look at an “opaque corner” of higher education

by Mark Leach

12/06/23

5

wonkfest17-atrium — Image: Wonkhe

The journey from Wonkfest to The Festival of Higher Education – and why you should come in November

by Mark Leach

22/05/23

Let’s call a Place a place - how the sector got its caps lock stuck

Let’s call a Place a place – how the sector got its caps lock stuck

by Mark Leach

19/04/23

6

Image: Midjourney

Like Clippy, only on steroids

by Mark Leach

20/03/23

1

puzzle-piece-wonkhe — Image: Ikon

The debate over student number controls is only one piece of the future policy puzzle

by Mark Leach

8/11/22

3

wonkhe-number-ten — Image: Shutterstock

Ten things the government could do for higher education right now

by Mark Leach

2/10/22

1

thequeen — Image: Alamy

Queen Elizabeth II – 1926 – 2022

by Mark Leach

8/09/22

Expanding higher education and levelling up - lessons from Conservative Party Conference

Expanding higher education and levelling up – lessons from Conservative Party Conference

by Mark Leach

5/10/21

3

Wonkfest returns to Build Back Higher

by Mark Leach

22/03/21

price-tag-graduates-wonkhe — Image: Ikon

The continued threat of reducing fees will not help students or universities

by Mark Leach

21/01/21

wonkhe-gold-awards-star — Image: Shutterstock

The very best of Wonkhe in 2020

by Mark Leach

19/12/20

wonkhe-arrow — Image: Ikon

Who owns admissions policy and where will it end up? The government just complicated the picture

by Mark Leach

13/11/20

mortar-board-chart-wonkhe — Image: IKON

The sector must collaborate to escape the government’s triple lock of policy failure

by Mark Leach

20/08/20

3

lightbulbs-float-away — Image: Ikon

This dumbed down higher education policy won’t help the government “level up”

by Mark Leach

6/07/20

2

Finish the story: parallels between the financial crash and higher education after Covid-19

Finish the story: parallels between the financial crash and higher education after Covid-19

by Mark Leach

19/06/20

1

ROPES-TOGETHER-WONKHE — Image: Shutterstock

We need a nationally coordinated approach to reopening universities

by Mark Leach

20/05/20

5

chair-table-wonkhe — Image: IKON

Universities need to play catchup to their business reality

by Mark Leach

11/11/19

5

rollercoaster-wonkhe — Image: Ikon

Universities should embrace the political carnival

by Mark Leach

28/10/19

2

wonkhe-studentsunions-1140x641 — Image: Shutterstock

It’s like Wonkhe. But specifically for students’ unions

by Mark Leach

1/07/19

bridges-levels-wonkhe — Image: Ikon

Crossing the gulf: the true challenge of Augar

by Mark Leach

3/06/19

1

wonkhe-augar-directions-arrow — Image: Ikon

Government to Take Back Control as universities get their most thoughtful kicking to date

by Mark Leach

30/05/19

3

shutterstock_762688183 (1) — Image: Shutterstock

The education policy trap: will the Augar review avoid the mistakes of the past?

by Mark Leach

26/05/19

5

facepalm-wonkne — Image: Shutterstock

How to lose friends and alienate politicians

by Mark Leach

15/04/19

6

vote-ballot-box-wonkhe — Image: Ikon

Will turkeys vote for Christmas? NUS heads in to a crunch conference week

by Mark Leach

8/04/19

gears-people-digital-wonkhe — Image: IKON

Universities deserve better than analogue leaders in a digital age

by Mark Leach

25/02/19

4

wonkhe-experts — Image: Shutterstock

Wonkfest preview: revenge of the experts

by Mark Leach

5/11/18

Introducing the Wonkhe HE Power List 2018

by Mark Leach

17/09/18

mortar-board-chart-wonkhe — Image: IKON

The Wonk Panel Survey 2018

by Mark Leach

9/04/18

wonkhe-card-vote — Image: Shutterstock

Passion, procedure and puppy rooms on the NUS National Conference agenda

by Mark Leach

26/03/18

3

placard-wonkhe-red — Image: IKON

An agenda of change to move us on from “The Enemy Within”

by Mark Leach

9/03/18

7

enemy-within-wonkhe — Image: IKON

The Enemy Within – why the narrative about universities and students went so wrong

by Mark Leach

9/03/18

9

eight-ball-wonkhe — Image: Shutterstock

Eight category mistakes in the debate around the funding review

by Mark Leach

18/02/18

12

mortar-board-chart-wonkhe — Image: IKON

Is there really a record number of disadvantaged students in HE?

by Mark Leach

20/11/17

1

walk-measure-wonkhe- — Image: IKON

What sort of TEF do students really want?

by Mark Leach

13/11/17

4

megaphone-free-speech-wonkhe — Image: IKON

The culture wars and a tale of two letters

by Mark Leach

30/10/17

1

conservative-party-conference-2017 — Image: Alamy

Keeping it under review at Conservative Party Conference

by Mark Leach

4/10/17

wonkhe-measure-review-case1 — Image: IKON

Is the “major” review of HE Commission:Impossible?

by Mark Leach

4/10/17

placard-wonkhe-red — Image: IKON

Notes on party conferences and a world transformed

by Mark Leach

28/09/17

1

wonkhe-power-list-featured-image

HE Power List 2017: Editor’s introduction

by Mark Leach

20/09/17

wonkhe-fee-cut-slice

A £7,500 fee cap? How a headline changed everything

by David Kernohan

18/09/17

14

speech-wonkhe-conflict — Image: IKON

The centre cannot hold for the current state the fees debate

by Mark Leach

21/07/17

jo-johnson-reform-speech-july-2017-london

Jo Johnson defends HE funding system in pre-summer speech

by Mark Leach

20/07/17

trump-wonkhe — Image: Shutterstock

Preparing your university for a visit by Donald Trump

by Mark Leach

3/07/17

westminster-montage-wonkhe — Image: IKON

Is the tuition fee system now under threat?

by Mark Leach

3/07/17

2

glitter-comment-leader-mark-leach-TEF-results-wonkhe

TEF results – Do the prizes still glitter?

by Mark Leach

22/06/17

parliament-london-wonkhe

The morning after – election results, university seats and what’s next

by Mark Leach

9/06/17

wonkhe-bristol-clifton — Image: Shutterstock

Universities and #GE2017 – Bristol West

by Mark Leach

5/06/17

pound-notes — Image: Shutterstock

The pros and cons of abolishing tuition fees

by Mark Leach

22/05/17

7

wonkhe-may-manifesto

Move over universities: the Conservative manifesto dissected

by David Morris

18/05/17

1

wonkhe-ping-pong — Image: Shutterstock

UPDATED: Agreement reached on HE Bill as it heads to final stages of debate

by David Morris

25/04/17

3

oxford-small-wonkhe — Photo: Shutterstock

If Oxbridge is the only solution, we’re asking the wrong questions

by Mark Leach

27/03/17

3

clouds-westminster-small

Higher Education and Research Bill enters another uncertain week in the Lords

by Mark Leach

13/03/17

chess-board-wonkhe — Image: Shutterstock

Government defeated in the Lords over TEF and fees

by Mark Leach

6/03/17

0

house-of-lords-chamber — Source: Hansard Society

Devil in the detail as the Bill enters final stages of scrutiny

by Mark Leach

6/03/17

man-paint-reform-small — Image: IKON

Path clears for HE Bill as government announces major changes

by Mark Leach

24/02/17

parliament-chair-wonkhe-portcullis — Photo: Alamy

“It’s a good question, actually…” – the OfS Chair meets MPs

by Mark Leach

22/02/17

tef-wonkhe-snakes-ladders — Image: IKON

TEF 1, TEF 2 and a complex game of snakes and ladders

by Mark Leach

20/02/17

michael-barber-youtube-wonkhe — Image: YouTube

Instructed to deliver: who is Michael Barber?

by Mark Leach

7/02/17

house-of-lords-chamber — Source: Hansard Society

Not content: Lords give the Bill a very rocky first day

by Mark Leach

10/01/17

3

bell-review-pieces-board-wonkhe — Image: IKON

Higher education agencies for whom the Bell tolls

by Mark Leach

19/12/16

7

consultation-wonkhe

HEFCE launches consultation on REF2021

by Mark Leach

8/12/16

2

people-data-spreadsheet-walk-small — Image: Shutterstock

Digesting the Longitudinal Educational Outcome data

by Mark Leach

1/12/16

man-stare-pounds wonkhe — Image: Shutterstock

Autumn Statement stems the tide but points to dicey years ahead

by Mark Leach

23/11/16

1

hammond-wonkhe

Live: Autumn Statement 2016

by Mark Leach

⬤

23/11/16

23rd Nov 2016

big-hand-wonkhe — Image: IKON

Quality, compliance and international students doublespeak

by Mark Leach

22/11/16

wonkhe-power-list-featured-image

HE Power List 2016: An introduction

by Mark Leach

15/09/16

theresa-may-wonkhe-number-10 — Image: Shutterstock

Universities move to the Department for Education

by Mark Leach

14/07/16

1

lock-book-wonkhe — Image: Shutterstock

In this time of chaos, the HE Bill should be paused

by Mark Leach

28/06/16

4

joe-cox-small — Photo: Shutterstock

Universities have a responsibility to drive us to a better world

by Mark Leach

17/06/16

parliament-london-wonkhe

Live: The Higher Education and Research Bill

by Mark Leach

⬤

18/05/16

19th May 2016

white-paper-live-blog-2

White Paper: What we know so far

by Mark Leach

16/05/16

white-paper-live-blog-2

Live: The Higher Education White Paper

by Mark Leach

⬤

16/05/16

16th May 2016

nus-conference-2016 — Photo: NUS

NUS disaffiliations – could a trickle turn into a flood?

by Mark Leach

13/05/16

3

the-sheffield-wheel — The Sheffield Wheel

Sketch: Could the BIS Sheffield office still be saved?

by Mark Leach

11/05/16

april-fools-small

Exclusive: Draft HE White Paper proposes radical new HE system [April Fool]

by Mark Leach

1/04/16

3

qaa-balance-wonkhe

Too little or too much? HEFCE’s new model for quality assessment

by Mark Leach

18/03/16

2

wonkhe-budget-red-book-small

Budget 2016 and what it means for HE

by Louisa Darian

16/03/16

baloon-small-wonkhe — Image: Shutterstock

Governance of UK universities: what’s going on?

by Mark Leach

18/01/16

4

wonkhe-green-paper-small-feature

Green Paper: responses collected

by Mark Leach

17/01/16

0

spending-review-2015-wonkhe-small

Spending Review: Key points for universities

by Mark Leach

25/11/15

0

paul-nurse

Nurse Review stops short of recommending radical change

by Zaki Dogliani

19/11/15

parliament-wonkhe

Live: Universities UK/CASE Political Affairs in Higher Education Forum

by Zaki Dogliani

⬤

19/11/15

19th Nov 2015

magnify-wonkhe — Image: Shutterstock

Green Paper: the closer you look, the less you see

by Mark Leach

9/11/15

2

incredible-machine-small-wonkhe

The incredible machine? Our visual guide to the TEF

by Mark Leach

6/11/15

4

green paper live blog small featured wonkhe HE

Live: Government launches higher education Green Paper

by Mark Leach

⬤

6/11/15

9th Nov 2015

Party at The Athenaeum?

by Mark Leach

18/09/15

jo johnson speech wonkhe uuk small

How to read: Jo Johnson’s speech to Universities UK

by Mark Leach

9/09/15

sncreportsmall

Report: Are we ready for the end of student number controls?

by Mark Leach

13/07/15

1

osborne 2015 budget

The Budget: surprise fees increase and grants to loans switch

by Mark Leach

8/07/15

0

jo johnson speech wonkhe uuk small

Back to school with Jo Johnson

by Mark Leach

1/07/15

0

blue dice wonkhe

A tale of two quality systems?

by Mark Leach

29/06/15

Student Funding Panel publishes recommendations

by Mark Leach

15/06/15

dice-small-wonkhe

A critical moment for the quality debate

by Mark Leach

8/06/15

11

Sajid Javid’s NUS wars

by Mark Leach

12/05/15

The new BIS team – agents of HMT?

by Mark Leach

12/05/15

power-list-small-email

HE Power List: the election effect

by Mark Leach

10/05/15