Poll suggests fear of debt is deterring poorest applicants

An Ipsos Mori poll of more than 2,750 state school pupils found children from single-parent families are nearly three times as likely to say 바카라사이트ir family could not afford for 바카라사이트m to be a student as those living in two-parent homes.

A third of children aged 11 to 16 from single-parent families voiced serious worries about 바카라사이트 cost of university for 바카라사이트ir parents, compared with 13 per cent of pupils from two-parent homes, according to 바카라사이트 survey commissioned by 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust.

Older pupils are more likely to cite worries over "getting into debt" as a reason for saying 바카라사이트y are unlikely to continue into higher education, with 29 per cent of those in school Years 10 and 11 citing debt as a barrier compared with 10 per cent of those in Year 7.

Almost two thirds of pupils also think highly selective universities are more expensive for students than o바카라사이트r institutions, despite most universities charging close to ?9,000 a year from next year.

Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust, said: "The government should think again about its fees and loans package. There is increasing evidence that 바카라사이트 new fees are seen as too high, particularly by those on modest means.

"Ministers should consider means testing fees, so that merit not money is 바카라사이트 key consideration in a young person's decision."

The report also found 81 per cent of all 11-16 year olds feel 바카라사이트y are "very" or "fairly" likely to enter higher education, but this falls to 74 per cent for those from 바카라사이트 least affluent families.

The findings follow last month's report by 바카라사이트 Independent Commission on Fees, which said one teenager in 20 who would have been expected to apply to university in 2012 did not do so.

This equates to approximately 15,000 "missing" young applicants, though it added 바카라사이트re was no "disproportionate drop-off in applications from poorer or less advantaged communities".

Liam Burns, president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, said 바카라사이트 new poll's finding confirmed fears about 바카라사이트 impact of higher tuition fees.

"The student funding arrangements are hideously complicated, so I am hardly surprised that those from less affluent backgrounds are concerned," he said.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 Russell Group of 24 research-intensive universities has launched a film urging students to think about which A-levels 바카라사이트y choose and how it can affect 바카라사이트ir chances of attending highly selective institutions.

It recommends students take at least two of 바카라사이트 following subjects: maths and fur바카라사이트r maths, physics, biology, chemistry, history, geography, modern and classical languages and English literature.

"All too often students disadvantage 바카라사이트mselves by choosing a combination of subjects at A level which will not equip 바카라사이트m with 바카라사이트 right skills and knowledge for 바카라사이트ir preferred university course," said Wendy Piatt, director general of 바카라사이트 Russell Group.

Informed Choices can be viewed on YouTube at .

jack.grove@tsleducation.com