Million Plus

Commenting on figures published by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills on Further education and skills: official statistics. 

Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive, million+ said:

“It is disappointing but not surprising that there are fewer adults in further education (Learning loans see fewer adults in education, says charity, BBC News) following the abolition of government funding for students studying A-level and similar courses when they are over 24.

“The policy of replacing direct funding with loans should be reviewed urgently and funding restored to those who want to study and improve their prospects later in life”.

The million+ and NUS report Never too late to learn (2012) confirmed that a third of university students enter university for the first time when they are over 21 and 62% of mature students who responded to our survey reported suffering financial hardship while studying.

Withdrawing funding support for students over the age of 24 years old was always going to have a detrimental impact on the opportunities to take up further and higher education.

ENDS

Notes to Editors
1. For further information or to arrange an interview, contact Rochelle Owusu- Antwi, Press and Communications Officer, million+ on 020 7717 1658 / 07527 336 795 or email press@millionplus.ac.uk.
2. million+ is a leading university think-tank. More information can be found at www.millionplus.ac.uk.
3. The full million+ and NUS report Never Too Late To Learn can be found here.