In 2012, Oxford and Cambridge universities received 63% and 67% of their applicants from state schools, despite these schools educating 93% of the school–age population. If access issues are to be addressed, then these figures need to be raised dramatically. This is not only the responsibility of these universities. It is also the responsibility of any state schools who fail to encourage their students to apply to these universities.
All secondary school teachers should acquire a basic understanding of the university system, including facts and figures about Oxbridge and Russell Group entry, as part of their teacher training. Each state school could be mandated to send at least four applications to Oxbridge every year. Schools which have no history of making any successful applications should be required to identify a pool of at least 12 potential candidates in the third form or earlier (allowing them to choose their GCSEs and A–levels accordingly). These schools should be sent information packs by the Department of Education explaining the statistics for competition for each and every degree and college at Oxbridge, and a list of desirable and undesirable qualifications for these courses. These schools would receive additional guidance from Oxbridge interview coaching companies in writing references and targeting applications to different courses and colleges. Guidance could include visits during the sixth form to coach students in interview technique and provide additional reading to assist them at interview.
Simply increasing the number of state–school applications to Oxbridge by 8,000 per year would have a much greater impact on state–school entrance rates than any number of bombastic politicians’ speeches or singularly ill–informed broadsheet articles.
Time for change?
The Great University Expansion has been driven by a combination of faulty assumptions, cynicism, self–interest, greed, wilful ignorance and disastrous mismanagement amongst the people who direct, fund and deliver Higher Education in the UK.
The expansionists want us to believe that all universities, all degrees and all students are equal and that expansion can help to transform our economy from low skills to high skills by unlocking the rich academic potential which runs throughout British society. They also want us to see a university education as an engine for social mobility, regional regeneration and as the gateway to a wiser, healthier civic society.
The twin ideas of university as a public good and that everybody who wants to go to “Uni” should be able to do so have become articles of faith for universities, politicians and the chattering classes. Because of this, the last three decades have seen us sucked up into a “degree bubble”, in a similar fashion to previous stock–market and housing bubbles. The main victims of this Higher Education bubble will be future generations – the graduates we offer no choice but a degree and a lifetime of debt. For them and us, expansion and its corresponding debt mountain represent an intra–generational gamble on a horrifying scale.
Whatever the outcome of this wager, there has been a profound lack of thought about the long–term social, cultural and economic ramifications of expansion to date. But if we examine the results of expansion, we find little evidence to support the nature and scale of this bet on expansion. Rather, there is plenty of evidence of negative returns for individuals, society and the economy from an expanded Higher Education system that is flawed in concept, design and operation.
Instead of economic success delivered by a highly–educated population, expansion has given us a mushrooming student debt mountain, falling standards, industrial–scale plagiarism and universities in regular financial crises. This direction of travel is not sustainable for our universities, society or economy. A complex world requires a diversity of solutions and, at the moment, we only seem to have one – a post–school system which has been reduced to an unimaginative mono–vision, literally “Uni or bust”.
It’s time to stop this intra–generational horror story!
It’s time to burst the Great Uni Expansion bubble!
Endnotes
1 Institute of Education Website 15th October 2010 http://www.ioe.ac.uk/45855.html
2 BBC Website, 19th November 2013 http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/24947191
3 HESA Website
4 ONS Social Trends 1992
5 HESA Website and Office of National Statistics “Social Trends 22”
6 HESA Website
7 Telegraph, 12th August, 2011 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/8695990/Students–face–leaving–university–with–60k–debts.html
8 The Robbins Report http://www.educationengland.org.uk/documents/robbins/robbins02.html
9 Ibid
10 Dearing Report (1997) www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/ncihe/
11 HEPI (2011) “Higher Education Supply And Demand To 2020” www.hepi.ac.uk/files/2010%20demand%20report%20summary.pdf
12 Times, 31 March 2018
13 Ibid
14 Office of the Independent Adjudicator website http://www.oiahe.org.uk/media/115360/oia–annual–report–2016.pdf
15 BBC Website http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education–27640303
16 Office of the Independent Adjudicator website http://oiahe.org.uk/media/88444/press–notice–annual–report–2012.pdf
17 HEPI (2009) “Student’s academic experiences” http://www.hepi.ac.uk/478–1616/HEPI–publishes–updated–research–on–students%E2%80%99–academic–experience.html
18 HoC Select Committee (2009) Students and Universities Report http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmdius/170/17007.htm
19 BIS (2011) “The Returns to Higher Education Qualifications” http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/higher–education/docs/r/11–973–returns–to–higher–education–qualifications.pdf
20 Channel 4 News Fact Check 12th October 2010 http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/how–progressive–is–lord–brownes–tuition–fees–system/4360
21 HESA Website
22 Ibid
23 Ibid
24 Guardian, 24th January 2016 http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/24/safe–spaces–universities–no–platform–free–speech–rhodes
25 HESA Website
26 UCAS website http://www.ucas.ac.uk/about_us/media_enquiries/media_releases/2010/210110
27 Guardian, 28th October, 2008 http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/oct/28/education–adivce Sutton Trust
28 THES, 3rd April, 2014 https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/more–data–can–lead–to–poor–student–choices–hefce–learns/2012410.article
29 Academic FOI Website http://www.academicfoi.com/aboutus.htm
30 THES, 5th July 2012 https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/marketing–spend–up–but–applications–fail–to–follow–suit/2012107.article
31 THES, 5th July 2012 http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=420468
32 House of Commons Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee Students and Universities (2009) Report http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmdius/170/17005.htm
33 House of Commons Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee Students and Universities (2009) Report http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmdius/170/17005.htm
34 THES, 16th January, 2014 https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/rosy–prospectuses–misleading–students/2010522.article
35 BBC, 15th November 2018 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education–41984465
36 House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Committee Government reform of Higher Education Twelfth Report of Session 2010–12
37 Gov UK Website https://www.gov.uk/national–minimum–wage–rates
38 THES, 12th March, 2015 https://www.timeshighereducation.com/features/is–employability–data–being–manipulated/2018930.article
39 THES, 3rd July 2014 https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/how–deep–in–the–red–debt–
estimates–miss–the–mark/2014289.article
40 Clearing House for Postgraduate Courses in Clinical Psychology http://www.leeds.ac.uk/chpccp/BasicNumbers.html
41 Guardian, 27th April, 2004 http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2004/apr/27/highereducation.accesstouniversity
42 THES 12th March 2013 http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/many–graduates–would–have–preferred–apprenticeships/2002517.article
43 Guardian ,14th September 2010, http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/sep/14/university–places–failure
44 House of Commons Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee, Students and Universities (2009) Evidence UCAS http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmdius/170/170we98.htm
45 Push website, 18th August, 2010 http://www.push.co.uk/this–month/in–the–news/results–day–2011/Flunk–rate–and–clearing.htm
46 Push website, 18th August, 2010 http://www.push.co.uk/this–month/in–the–news/results–day–2011/Flunk–rate–and–clearing.htm
47 Guardian, 20th October, 2009 http://www.theguardian.com/education/2009/oct/20/university–experience–changes–students
48 Guardian, 22nd May 2013 http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/may/22/university–student–britain–mental–health
49 BBC Website 30th September 2015 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education–34354405
50 Telegraph, 16th September 2012 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/9545232/Students–win–degree–places–with–as–little–as–two–E–grades–at–A–level.html
51 Guardian, 20th August, 2006 http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2006/aug/20/comment.highereducation
52 Telegraph, 24th August 2012 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/9497191/Universities–admitting–foreign–students–with–poor–English.html
53 Telegraph, 20th September, 2012, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/9556080/Universities–using–foreign–students–as–cash–cows.html
54 Telegraph, 24th August 2012 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/9497191/Universities–admitting–foreign–students–with–poor–English.html
55 House of Commons Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee, Students and Universities (2009) Evidence UCAS Evidence Nigel Dyer http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmdius/170/170we70.htm
56 BBC Website, 17th June, 2008 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7358528.stm
57 Guardian, 19th September, 2007 User Comment http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/mortarboard/2007/sep/19/isukeducationdoingwellor 15
58 Telegraph, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/9556080/Universities–using–foreign–students–as–cash–cows.html
59 Guardian, 23rd November, 2005 http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2005/nov/23/highereducation.tuitionfees UUK
60 Guardian, 18th September, 2009 http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/sep/18/freshers–week–commercialism–university
61 THES, 1st July 2014 https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/students–relying–on–payday–loans–to–make–ends–meet/2013925.article
62 Natwest (2009) Student Living Index 2009 http://www.natwest.com/global/media/y2009/m–5.ashx
63 Daily Mail, 29th September, 2009 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article–1216816/Fresher–students–hotels–rooms–left–campus.html
64 THES, 1st September 2011 www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=417287
65 Independent, 27th August, 2011 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education–news/who–said–universitys–like–a–holiday–camp–beds–crisis–sees–students–sent–to–pontins–2344681.html
66 THES, 10th February, 2011 http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=415154
67 NUS (2012) “Accommodation Costs Survey” http://www.nus.org.uk/en/news/news/student–accommodation–costs–double–in–ten–years–nus–survey–shows/
68 NUS (2016) “Accommodation Costs Survey” http://nusdigital.s3–eu–west–1.amazonaws.com/document/documents/20637/e1416d1aae50226cf42ab902273d89c4/Unipol_NUS_AccommodationCostsSurvey2015.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJKEA56ZWKFU6MHNQ&Expires=1457827158&Signature=JsBxlPU%2B19YKU%2BLFfYjV0CO60hQ%3D
69 Guardian, 15th August, 2015 http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/aug/15/soaring–student–rents–college–accommodation–crisis
70 Guardian, 15th August, 2015 http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/aug/15/soaring–student–rents–college–accommodation–crisis
71 Guardian, 15th August, 2015 http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/aug/15/students–luxury–accommodation–debts
72 http://www.themoneystop.co.uk/102007/biba–students–should–take–out–contents–insurance.html
73 The Baroness Deech of Cumnor Speech, 28 March 2012, “The Universities: Under Regulation” http://www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures–and–events/the–universities–under–regulation
74 Independent, 18th November, 2008 http://www.independent.co.uk/student/news/are–students–safe–1023989.html
75 Guardian, 25th September 2000 http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/sep/25/highereducation.education
76 Ibid
77 Guardian, 13th July, 2008 http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/jul/13/ukcrime.highereducation
78 Mancunion Website http://mancunion.com/2014/02/24/manchester–ranked–worst–for–student–crime/
79 South Yorkshire Police Website, http://www.southyorks.police.uk/news–syp/reduction–violent–crime–against–students http://www.biba.org.uk/MediaCenterContentDetails.aspx?ContentID=500
80 British Insurers Brokers Association, 12th September, 2005 http://www.biba.org.uk/MediaCenterContentDetails.aspx?ContentID=500
81 Guardian, 13th July, 2008 http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/jul/13/ukcrime.highereducation
82 Generally attributed to WH Auden, but actually appeared in different forms in various publications from about 1900 onwards
83 Adam Smith, “The Wealth of Nations” Book 5 Chapter 1, Part 3
84 Lord Byron “Thoughts Suggested By a College Examination”, “http://www.gradesaver.com/lord–byrons–poems/e–text/early–poems–thoughts–suggested–by–a–college–examination
85 THES, 11th August 2011 2012 www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=417059
86 BBC Website 15th May 2013 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education–22484419
87 THES, 4th May, 2007 http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=208813§ioncode=26
88 OECD Website, 2011 https://www.oecd.org/edu/skills–beyond–school/48631144.pdf
90 Guardian, 31st October, 2006 http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2006/oct/31/universityteaching.highereducation1
91 THES, 4th May 2007 http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=208813
92 UCU Website, 27th May 2008 http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3316
93 Bruce Charlton’s Miscellany 9th May 2008 http://charltonteaching.blogspot.co.uk/2008/05/class–sizes–in–uk–universities.html
94 House of Commons Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee, Students and Universities (2009) Report http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmdius/170/17007.htm
95 Ibid
96 House of Commons Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee, Students and Universities (2009) Evidence UCAS E– Consultation summary http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmdius/170/170we06.htm
97 HEPI (2007) “The Academic Experience of students in English universities” www.hepi.ac.uk/files/27Academicexperienceofstudents.doc
98 Ibid
99 HEPI (2007) “Professor Gibbs’ commentary” www.hepi.ac.uk/files/33–
Gibbs–commentary.doc
100 THES, 1st August 2013 http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/student–workloads–compared–and–contrasted/2006151.article
101 HEPI (2007) “Professor Gibbs’ commentary” www.hepi.ac.uk/files/33–Gibbs–commentary.doc
102 Ibid
103 Ibid
104 Guardian, 25th September 2007 http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2007/sep/25/students.highereducation HEPI
105 THES, 24th August, 2006 http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=204943
106 Which University? “A Degree of Value” 2014 http://www.wonkhe.com/wp–content/uploads/2014/11/Which–A–degree–of–value–Nov–2014.pdf
107 THES, 8th March 2012 www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=419279
108 HESA Website
109 Telegraph, 1st January, 2011 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/8235115/Dumbing–down–of–university–grades–revealed.html
110 HESA Website
111 House of Commons Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee Students and Universities (2009) Evidence Professor Yorke http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmdius/170/170ii.pdf
112 Civitas (2005) “Education: Better results and declining standards? Online Briefing” http://www.civitas.org.uk/pdf/educationBriefingDec05.pdf
113 Guardian, 6th July, 2008 http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/jul/06/highereducation.uk
114 Telegraph, 1st January, 2011 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/8235115/Dumbing–down–of–university–grades–revealed.html
115 Telegraph, 16th March, 2004 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/3336381/Dumbing–down–fear–as–leading–universities–award–more–firsts.html
116 Civitas (2005) “Education: Better results and declining standards?” Online Briefing http://www.civitas.org.uk/pdf/educationBriefingDec05.pdf
117 BBC Website, 24th June, 2008 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7469396.stm
118 Quality Assurance Agency Annual Report
119 HoC Select Committee (2009) Students and Universities Report http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmdius/170/17007.htm