The Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Students,
, has warned that
Government plans to restrict student loans threatens their aim to
widen access to universities, and should take account of the
impact of the pandemic.
The plans, which were leaked today, are to consult on making
loans conditional on students achieving minimum grades in English
and Maths at GCSE.
Speaking at a Parliamentary reception marking the centenary of
the National Union of Students, he will tell NUS officers, alumni
and parliamentarians that widening participation should be
central to the Government’s response to the Augar Review, on
which Education Secretary will make a statement to the
House of Commons tomorrow.
He will say:
“Those who enter our universities must be able to demonstrate
they can benefit from higher education, but inflexible minimum
entry requirements risk turning back the clock a generation.
We’ve waited a very long time for the Government’s response to
the Augar Review and we must get it right.
“We know, from studies commissioned
by the DfE, that the pandemic has had the greatest impact on the
attainment of children from disadvantaged homes. This is the
wrong time to make decisions which will damage their chances
further. There needs to be a full assessment of the impact of the
pandemic on grades before introducing new barriers.
“These proposals cut across the Government’s stated ambition
to widen participation, blocking the most disadvantaged – who we
know have poorer outcomes at GCSE – from accessing student loans
and the opportunities higher education gives them.
“Children on free school meals are only half as likely to
achieve a grade 5 at GCSE in English and Maths as their wealthier
peers. To cut their opportunities off at the knees is worse than
cruel. Coupled with the plans to reduce Foundation courses
at universities, the proposed measures are deeply
regressive.”
Notes to Editors:
- 27.8% children on free school meals get grade 5s in English
and Maths, compared to 54% of children not on FSM.
- Approximately 71% of pupils in England achieve a grade 4 in
GCSE English and maths, falling to 52% among disadvantaged
households.
