External-examiner reports are annual reviews written by independent academics who are appointed by a university to evaluate its academic standards, assessment quality, and whether marking is fair and consistent. The system is required across UK higher education under the UK Quality Code, and every university must collect these reports, respond to them, and make them available to staff and enrolled students.
The reports typically comment on how well learning outcomes are assessed, whether exams and coursework are appropriate, the balance between invigilated and continuous assessment, and any concerns or recommendations for improvement.
Unlike for example Glasgow University, which makes the external examiner reports available, the Open University, like most other universities, hides the external examiner reports behind in intranet, meaning prospective students cannot see what external examiners have said about issues such as the use of uninvigilated exams, or the use of online invigilation. Imperial College will make them available under a freedom of information request.
The Open University has every reason to want to hide the external examiner reports for mathematics, statistics and physics, as these are very critical of the Open University, because of the use of uninvigiated examinations.