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The Tories today appointed writer Toby Young, who complained about the 'ghastly inclusivity' of wheelchair ramps in schools, to the board of their new higher education watchdog.

The Office for Students (OfS) legally come into force today with a remit to hold regulate university vice chancellors' pay and enforce 'free speech' on campus.

Education Secretary Justine Greening said the OfS will be tasked with ensuring the "world class reputation" of the UK's universities is maintained.

But the appointment of Young, an outspoken right-wing writer, to the board of the regulator has sparked criticism.

In a column for the Spectator in 2012, Young wrote: "Inclusive. It’s one of those ghastly, politically correct words that has survived the demise of New Labour. 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.”

(Image: TMS)

He went on to call on then-Education Secretary Michael Gove to bring back O-levels and 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 [Harriet] Harman’s Law."

University and College Union general secretary Sally Hunt 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 proper representation from staff or students."

But OfS chairman Sir Michael Barber said: "I am delighted to be welcoming another outstanding set of appointments. The new board members' broad mix of skills and experiences complement those already appointed.

"I am confident that the OfS has a board in place that is well-placed to successfully oversee the creation and guide the operation of a new organisation which will be shaping our brilliant higher education sector in the interests of students, short, medium and long term."

Young told the Mirror: “I was using ‘inclusiveness’ and ‘inclusion’ in that article to describe the dumbing down of the national curriculum under the last Labour Government — the fraudulent practice of making exams easier so the Government could point to the fact that more pupils were passing as evidence of school improvement.

"I wasn’t using it to describe the policy of educating children with disabilities in mainstream schools. I’m strongly in favour of inclusion in that sense.”

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.

“The appointments to the board reflect the diverse needs of the higher education sector, young people and employers. The OfS board's broad range of skills and experience across the field of education will ensure it is able to deliver for students."

The other newly appointed board members are: Simon Levine, the global co-CEO of law firm DLA Piper; Katja Hall from Chairman Mentors International; and Monisha Shah, chairwoman of Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance.

Ms Greening said: "The higher education sector is one of our nation's greatest assets, and the OfS will play a vital role in ensuring our universities retain their world-class reputation for years to come.

"I welcome the new OfS board members to their important new roles. Their experience and skill will be key in ensuring the OfS achieves its ambitions."