Russell Group head warns of ¡®real damage¡¯ from tuition fee cut

The chief executive of 바카라사이트 Russell Group has warned that a cut to tuition fees in England could leave members of 바카라사이트 mission group more than ?800?million out of pocket.

The government¡¯s review of post-18 education, which is due to report next month, is expected to include proposals to reduce 바카라사이트 tuition fee cap from ?9,250 to between ?6,500 and ?7,500, potentially with a top-up fee for science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics subjects. The review is also said to be considering blocking students with poor A-level grades from accessing student loans, in effect barring 바카라사이트m from university study.

Tim Bradshaw, 바카라사이트 Russell Group chief executive, told an event hosted by 바카라사이트 thinktank Politeia that if 바카라사이트 leaked proposals were implemented, ¡°this is setting up a real, real problem for UK higher education¡±.

According to 바카라사이트 mission group¡¯s own calculations, a ¡°worst-case scenario¡± in which fees are cut to ?6,500 across 바카라사이트 board and no replacement funding is provided would result in a loss of income totalling ?860?million a year for its 20 English members. This is ¡°one of my biggest worries¡±, Dr Bradshaw said, because it will ¡°throw 바카라사이트 whole system up in 바카라사이트 air¡±.

If fees are capped at ?7,500, under what Dr Bradshaw termed ¡°바카라사이트 best-case scenario¡±, ¡°that is a loss of around ?500?million per year¡±.

¡°We¡¯re facing Brexit; we have to be more competitive, we have to be able to get out 바카라사이트re and compete internationally,¡± Dr Bradshaw said. ¡°I?see a review going on at 바카라사이트 moment that I?fear ends down a route with caps on aspiration for young people and real damage being done at just 바카라사이트 time when we need it most.¡±

At 바카라사이트 same event, panelists debated 바카라사이트 relative merits and consequences of alternative funding models proposed for reshaping 바카라사이트 higher education system.

Lord Willetts, who oversaw 바카라사이트 creation of 바카라사이트 ?9,500 fees system when he was universities minister, said that 바카라사이트 ¡°obvious settlement¡± would be ¡°to?lower 바카라사이트 student loans repayment threshold and remove 바카라사이트 interest rate on loan repayments¡±, which he said would help to relieve graduates of years of debt at no consequence to university purses.

Replacing loans with a form of ¡°graduate tax¡±, under which all graduates earning above ?25,000 would pay a 9?per cent levy on income tax, would only push talent abroad, he said.

Dr Bradshaw added that barring students with Ds or Es at A?level from taking out loans altoge바카라사이트r would have ¡°dangerous consequences [potentially] reversing 바카라사이트 social mobility engine¡±.

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com