Responding to research from the Sutton Trust into how financial
difficulties are curbing educational choices, Geoff Barton,
General Secretary of the Association of School and College
Leaders, said:
“It is disappointing, but sadly not surprising, that family
background continues to play such a huge role in the
opportunities available to young people. There are many reasons
why students may decide to live at home but clearly living costs
are becoming an increasingly big factor and causing some people
to not even apply for university in the first place. It is
obvious that the current tuition and maintenance loans are not
adequately addressing this issue and there needs to be provision
of maintenance grants for disadvantaged young people to ensure
that everyone has the option to attend university.
“The plan to de-fund the majority of BTECs and other applied
general qualifications is only likely to compound the issue.
These courses provide well-established pathways for young people,
particularly those from more disadvantaged backgrounds, into
further and higher education. The worsening crisis in 16-19
funding must also be addressed as services that support students
in applying to university are at risk of being cut. It is time to
reform the pupil premium to provide funding for disadvantaged 16
to 19 year-olds, and to weight this towards pupils in persistent
poverty.”
