Here are the headlines from the government’s response to the Augar review as outlined by Michelle Donelan in a speech to the Centre for Policy Studies on 24th February 2022. This is Part 1 of our commentary, and Part 2 – exploring the risks and opportunities – will follow next week.
- There will be a further two-year freeze on tuition fees.
- The fee limit for foundation years will be reduced
- The student loan repayment period will be extended to 40 years from 2023
- The loans repayment threshold lowered to £25,000 from 2023.
- There will be a “Quality and transparency drive” with new minimum thresholds for drop-out rates and progression to graduate jobs.
- There will be a Consultation on a minimum qualification requirement of grade 4 in Maths and English to access loans to go to university .
- There will also be a Consultation on a Lifelong Loan Entitlement for four years equivalent of long or short courses at any age from 2025.
- The Government will be investing in 4 areas:
a) Equipment and facilities for “high-cost, high-return subjects”
b) Degree apprenticeships
c) A new scholarship programme for students from disadvantaged backgrounds
d) Further education
The full speech can be found here.
Analysis and opinion:
- https://www.theguardian.com/education/2022/feb/24/uk-government-prioritising-savings-in-review-of-post-18-education
- https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-augar-review-is-encouraging-for-british-education-0ss675dft
- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/government-universities-children-gcses-england-b2021322.html
- https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/treasury-win-kicks-funding-worries-down-post-election-road
- https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-politics-parliament-2022-2-augar-government-bids-to-slash-rate-of-student-loan-write-off/
- https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/augar-response-number-cap-options-include-graduate-earnings
- https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-views-of-the-uk-2022-2-lift-don-t-limit/
- https://schoolsweek.co.uk/augar-review-what-schools-need-to-know-about-university-shake-up/
- https://www.fenews.co.uk/fe-voices/sutton-trust-responds-to-the-expected-consultation-on-minimum-entry-requirements-as-part-of-the-augar-review/
- https://www.fenews.co.uk/education/what-augar-means-for-disadvantaged-young-people/
- https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/feb/26/student-loan-ban-will-hit-dyslexic-people-hard-says-benjamin-zephaniah
- https://wonkhe.com/blogs/theres-a-giant-student-shaped-hole-in-the-governments-augar-response/