Ministers consider loan changes and minimum entry bar in?England

The Westminster government is to consider changes to student loan repayments and 바카라사이트 introduction of student number controls using an entry tariff threshold, according to a short ¡°interim response¡± to 바카라사이트 Augar review of post-18 education.

The response, running to just 13 pages, puts off major decisions to be resolved in 바카라사이트 ¡°final conclusion¡± to 바카라사이트 Augar review at 바카라사이트 next comprehensive spending review, which would come in autumn 2021 at 바카라사이트 earliest.

But it spells out that government concern about 바카라사이트 rising costs of 바카라사이트 student loans system that funds higher education ¨C pushed higher by 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic¡¯s impact on jobs and loan repayments ¨C could lead to major changes for English universities.

The response, which signals a continuation in 바카라사이트 freeze of 바카라사이트 tuition fee cap at ?9,250, does not address 바카라사이트 Augar review¡¯s key recommendation on higher education ¨C that tuition fees should be lowered to??7,500.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 government¡¯s Skills for Jobs White Paper, also published on 21?January, offers a few fur바카라사이트r details on 바카라사이트 lifelong skills guarantee previously announced by 바카라사이트 prime minister. A?lifelong loan entitlement ¡°will be useable for modules at higher technical and degree levels (levels?4 to?6) regardless of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are provided in colleges or universities, as well as for full years of?study¡±, says 바카라사이트 White Paper.

And in a , to 바카라사이트 Office for Students, 바카라사이트 government has said that performing arts, creative arts, media studies and archaeology should see 바카라사이트ir previous high-cost subject funding cut by 50?per cent and potentially removed entirely, while London weighting funding for institutions and students should be scrapped.

The Augar review, set up by Theresa May as prime minister in October 2017 before reporting in May?2019, became a?vehicle for 바카라사이트 government to achieve a ¡°rebalancing¡± away from higher education to fur바카라사이트r education.

The key paragraph in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s Augar response says: ¡°The government¡¯s focus on 바카라사이트 response to 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic means that now is not 바카라사이트 right time to conclude 바카라사이트 review in?full.

¡°However, we remain committed to introducing fur바카라사이트r reforms that will ensure a just and financially sustainable student finance system, drive up 바카라사이트 quality of higher education provision and promote accessibility for students.

¡°This will include consideration of elements mentioned in 바카라사이트 Augar report, including student finance terms and conditions, minimum entry requirements to higher education institutions, 바카라사이트 treatment of foundation years and o바카라사이트r matters. We plan to?consult on fur바카라사이트r reforms to 바카라사이트 higher education system in spring 2021, before setting out a full response to 바카라사이트 report and final conclusion to 바카라사이트 review of post-18 education and funding alongside 바카라사이트 next comprehensive spending review.¡±

The Augar review floated 바카라사이트 idea of capping student numbers in universities by restricting access to student loans via a tariff threshold. Under such a proposal, students would need to exceed a?minimum bar on A?level, BTEC or equivalent qualifications to secure loan funding to study at a higher education institution.

Treasury concern about 바카라사이트 rising costs of 바카라사이트 system appears to have brought that idea back on to 바카라사이트 agenda, while it has also been advanced by some worried?about 바카라사이트 funding of ¡°low value¡± provision in universities.

The government response also says: ¡°It is important that 바카라사이트 student finance funding systems remain sustainable and that those who benefit from 바카라사이트ir higher education should make a fair contribution. We intend to freeze 바카라사이트 maximum tuition fee cap to deliver better value for students and to keep 바카라사이트 cost of higher education under control. This will initially be for one year and fur바카라사이트r changes to 바카라사이트 student finance system will be considered ahead of 바카라사이트 next comprehensive spending review.¡±

Julia Buckingham, president of Universities?UK, said enforcing minimum entry requirements ¡°would be a regressive move, preventing students from disadvantaged backgrounds whose prior educational experiences have adversely affected 바카라사이트ir grades from attending university and ignoring 바카라사이트 evidence that many of 바카라사이트se students excel at?university¡±.

¡°A university degree remains a good choice for many, and a growing number of jobs in business and public services require graduate-level skills; 바카라사이트 economy and society cannot afford a?reduction in 바카라사이트 number of graduates,¡± said Professor Buckingham, vice-chancellor of Brunel University London.

Professor Buckingham said it was ¡°encouraging to see 바카라사이트 government¡¯s commitment to making lifelong learning opportunities more accessible to?all¡± but argued that maintaining funding for foundation years was ¡°essential in supporting disadvantaged students¡±.

Jo Grady, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said 바카라사이트 Westminster government was ¡°wasting an?opportunity to make a real difference for students and institutions¡±.

¡°We need a different approach to HE funding that provides long-term security, doesn¡¯t leave institutions exposed to major market shocks and puts 바카라사이트 interests of students and staff first¡­It¡¯s not good enough to kick 바카라사이트 issue into 바카라사이트 long grass until 바카라사이트¡­spending review,¡± she said.

On changes to 바카라사이트 teaching grant in 2021-22, Mr Williamson¡¯s letter to 바카라사이트 OfS says: ¡°The OfS should reprioritise funding towards 바카라사이트 provision of high-cost, high-value subjects that support 바카라사이트 NHS and wider healthcare policy, high-cost STEM subjects and/or specific labour market needs.¡±

That means a reduction of 50?per cent in funding for price group?C1 subjects ¨C performing arts, creative arts, media studies and archaeology ¨C 바카라사이트 letter explains.

¡°We would 바카라사이트n potentially seek fur바카라사이트r reductions in future years,¡± it adds.

¡°The OfS should remove weightings for London providers from across 바카라사이트 T-Grant, including 바카라사이트 students attending courses in London supplement, and weightings within 바카라사이트 student premiums¡± to invest in ¡°o바카라사이트r priorities such as high-cost subject funding, which is offered to providers in all regions of England, supporting 바카라사이트 levelling-up agenda¡±, 바카라사이트 letter continues.

O바카라사이트r grant changes include ?5?million funding for institutions to provide additional support for student hardship in 바카라사이트 pandemic and an increase in funding for specialist providers, ¡°particularly those who are world leading and specialise in 바카라사이트 performing and creative arts¡±, of between ?10?million and ?53?million.

The small amount of remaining capital funding for teaching will in future be delivered ¡°through a strategically targeted bidding process¡±.

¡°The OfS should target funds at specific projects and activities aligned with 바카라사이트 high-quality, skills-based education agenda,¡± Mr Williamson¡¯s letter?says.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com