Against the backdrop of a record gap in university access between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and their better off peers, the Fair Access Coalition released the following statement on the government’s decision to increase university fees:
“As the Fair Access Coalition, we want to see a higher education system where access is not limited by socio-economic status, but rather determined by everyone’s desire to learn and ability to succeed. We are pleased to see today’s increase to maintenance loans. Support for students on low incomes has not kept up with inflation, and this will address a significant concern for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds considering higher education.
Our experience of working with thousands of these young people means we know first-hand the extreme hardships they face as undergraduates. If the Labour government are to truly achieve their opportunities mission, they must go further and reinstate maintenance grants too.
Today’s announcement for a one-off inflationary rise to tuition fees is a necessary and welcome step. Given the number of universities in significant financial difficulty, we welcome the government’s decision – tough as it may be – to support the stability of the higher education sector. Cuts to tuition fees – the value of which has consistently dropped in real terms – lead to cuts to widening participation budgets. We know this difficult decision will be crucial to protecting the widening participation funding designed to close the university access gap.
Going to university remains one of the best choices a young person can make to increase their chances of succeeding in work and life. These policies will ensure the Robbins principle that everyone who has the ability and desire to do so, is able to access higher education, becomes a reality.”
Fair Access Coalition Members:
- Laura Gray CEO, Brightside;
- Anne-Marie Canning CEO, The Brilliant Club
- Sam Holmes CEO, Causeway
- Rae Tooth CEO, Inclusion Revolution
- Rachel Carr CEO, IntoUniversity
- Jonny Rich CEO, Push
- Nick Bent CEO, UpReach;
- Jayne Taylor CEO, The Elephant Group
- Anna Searle CEO, The Access Project
- Gaby Sumer CEO, Villiers Park
- Christine Kinnear CEO, With Insight Education
At The Brilliant Club, we know the university sector is in need of investment, and that it is in the interest of students, institutions and society to ensure that our universities are sustainable.
With tuition fees set to increase, it is important as a sector that we work collaboratively to advocate that a portion of the funds raised through this route is appropriately directed at students most likely to miss out on university because of their family income and background.
You can find our report here on the experience of students from less-advantaged backgrounds once they reach university, which calls for the reintroduction of maintenance grants to support these students to succeed. You can also read about Join the Dots here, our student success programme which provides a network of support during the school-university transition.