Rationing access to loans would cheapen vocational education

Blocking students with lower A level grades from accessing student loans for university courses would reinforce the idea that vocational qualifications are inferior to degrees, an access expert has claimed.

According to The Sunday Times newspaper, Philip Augar’s review of post-18 education, which is expected to publish its findings in the new year, could recommend prohibiting prospective students with less than three D grades at A level from accessing student loans. Instead, these students would be encouraged to opt for cheaper vocational courses, for which they would be offered loans, the paper said.

The leaked proposal was published as the Office for National Statistics revealed that its review of accounting for student loans will add an extra £12 billion to the UK’s national deficit.