Student finance 2012: independent taskforce to separate facts from politics

Today, alongside Martin Lewis of moneysavingexpert.com, I am proud to be launching a major campaign – independent of government – to tackle the myths and misconceptions surrounding the true costs of higher education from 2012.

There can be no doubt that the trebling of tuition fees to £9,000 is having a major impact on the decisions taken by potential students and their families. Writing for the Guardian two months ago, I warned that “confusion around the new [tuition fees and student finance] arrangements presents a real risk that students may be deterred in the absence of the facts on fees”. Earlier this week, my fears were confirmed by a Universities UK poll showing that more than half of parents felt that they had been given insufficient information about the new student finance arrangements.

Parents are not alone in worrying about the new system. On Tuesday evening, I was talking to newly qualified teachers on the Teach First programme, all of whom were concerned about what kind of advice they should be giving to young people thinking about their post-16 options. My own work with students through the Helena Kennedy Foundation, which includes some of the most disadvantaged students in Britain’s colleges, confirms that the prospect of fees at £9,000 is making so many students seriously rethink their ambitions.

Too many of the basic facts about the new system are being lost in the political debate about the merits of the system. A vague utterance from any minister is enough to provoke a barrage of abuse about broken promises, eye watering debts and the risk of students being put off. That’s why Martin and I, backed by NUS, universities, UCAS and student money advisors, are taking matters into our own hands. Our new, snappily named, Independent Taskforce on Student Finance Information, will lay out clear, unbiased information telling students, families, teachers and advisors everything they need to know about the new system. We’ll be working with a range of partners to get the information across using the best that the web, best-of-breed apps, video print, speakers, ambassadors and every other way we can think of to allow people to make informed decisions about higher education.

As critics of the new system, Martin and I are well placed to ensure that potential students get access to clear, unbiased information about the student finance from 2012.  We are grateful for the blessing of ministers, but we are not in the business of selling the Government’s fees policy. Quite the opposite; we wish to separate the facts from the politics.

Facts may not be enough to prevent students from being deterred from higher education by higher fees. Last week I was in Nottingham, meeting sixth formers from three schools in Ashfield. Many of them were very well informed about fees, loans, grants, repayment thresholds and debt write off. They questions they were asking were not about affordability, but about whether university was really worth it.

If students are deterred – as I expect many will be – by the realities of the new system, the Government will need to think again. But the tragedy of students, particularly from poorer backgrounds, being deterred because of myths and misconceptions is one that can be easily avoided if we all play our part.

Martin Lewis has already published 20 key facts about the new system on his website at moneysavingexpert.com. Spread the word far and wide. There’s more to follow and lots to do. All of us – supporters and critics alike – must play our part.