1. Cable argues for merits of a graduate tax
Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, has this week asked the Browne Review to look further at the merits of eradicating tuition fees entirely, and replacing them with a system of graduate contributions. The model, based largely on that developed by NUS, would see contributions based upon future earnings over a given period of time. This would see high-earning graduates contributing more, whilst low-earners would pay far less, or nothing.
The Browne Review had, prior to this announcement, been expected to recommend significantly raising the tuition fees cap, with the aim of developing a market in fees.
The Browne Review is expected to report its findings in late October. The Government will subsequently issue its response to the findings.
2. Up to 170 000 applicants to miss out on uni places as applications rise by 11.6 per cent
Around 170,000 people will miss out on a place at university in England this autumn, as applications surged to another record high, figures published by UCAS today show. Applications this year are up 11.6 per cent
More than 660,000 people had applied for full-time undergraduate courses by the end of June, compared with just over 590,000 at the same time last year.
3. Parliamentary questions
Field – Sixth Form Colleges: Capital Investment
Thursday 15 July 2010 | House of Commons - Written Question
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the 293 colleges he expects to receive capital grant support in 2010-11 will include sixth form colleges.
Mr Hayes: Out of the 293 colleges that the Skills Funding Agency expects to fund in 2010-11, 28 are sixth form colleges. From 1 April 2010 designated sixth form colleges became the responsibility of the Department for Education, however it was agreed that existing approved projects would be funded by the Skills Funding Agency in 2010-11.
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the £50 million funding announced by his Department for colleges that have yet to receive significant funding from capital programmes will be available to all sixth form colleges which have not recently received such funding.
Mr Hayes: The £50 million additional college capital funding is not available to sixth form colleges. As of 1 April 2010 designated sixth form colleges became the responsibility of the Department for Education. Sebastian James, group operations director of DSG international plc, is conducting a comprehensive review of all Department for Education capital investment. The review will guide future spending decisions over the next spending review period (2011-12 to 2014-15) and will look at how best to meet demand; make current design and procurement cost-effective and efficient.
Lord Hunt – Education Maintenance Allowance
Tuesday 13 July 2010 | House of Lords - Written Question
Lord Hunt: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of the education maintenance allowance.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Hill of Oareford): We have assessed the quantified benefits of education maintenance allowance (EMA) through comprehensive evaluation of the EMA pilots. . In summary, the evaluation of EMA showed that, while it has a significant positive impact on participation and attainment, a high proportion-just over 90 per cent-in receipt of EMA would have been likely to participate without it. A value-for-money assessment of EMA was carried out in 2008 based on this evaluation and estimated that the monetised benefits of EMA outweighed the costs despite the high deadweight.
Also published on the department's website on 24 June 2010 was the research report on Barriers to Participate in Education and Training, which includes questions about EMA in its survey of young people.
Smith – Education Maintenance Allowance
Monday 12 July 2010 | House of Commons - Written Question
Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to publish the report of the cross-government review of financial support for 16 to 18 year olds commissioned by his Department's predecessor; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Gibb: The Department has published the Barriers to Participation in Education and Training research which was commissioned to inform the review on the Department's website on 24 June 2010. We have no plans to publish anything further. The evidence collected will inform the comprehensive spending review in the autumn.
Smith – Further Education
Monday 12 July 2010 | House of Commons - Written Question
Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which Minister in his Department has responsibility for (a) sixth form colleges and (b) 14 to 19 year olds in further education colleges.
Mr Gibb: I am Minister responsible for sixth form colleges and 14 to 19-year-olds in further education colleges.