Student Loan Changes Social Mobility 2022-03-14
2022-03-14
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Student loan requirements have been changed, and there are concerns about their effect on social mobility.
What assessment has been made of the potential impact of changes to student loan requirements on social mobility?
Our changes mean a fairer deal for students, graduates and the taxpayer, and build on our work to drive up quality so that more young people go on to complete their education and then go on to graduate jobs, delivering real social mobility.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer did not provide a specific impact assessment of changes on social mobility.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Concerns about the impact of decreased eligibility, extended repayment periods, and lower thresholds for student loans on students from low-income families.
Decreasing eligibility, extending the repayment period and lowering the repayment threshold for student loans will disproportionately impact students from low-income families. What impact assessment has been undertaken on these changes from an equality perspective?
When we published our response to Augar, we also published our impact assessment in full, but at the heart of our plans is fairness, as I have said, for the taxpayer, for students and for graduates. No student will pay back more in real terms than they borrow.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer did not provide a detailed impact assessment from an equality perspective or specific data on how these changes affect student numbers.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Research shows that only about half of pupils on free school meals achieve a grade 4 in GCSE English and Maths, compared to 70% overall.
Research by the Higher Education Policy Institute shows that 70% of parents want their children to go to university, but the Government's proposal for minimum entry requirements of a grade 4 in GSCE English and maths for student finance will disproportionately affect disadvantaged students. Why is this being proposed?
Once again, this shows the Opposition's obsession with targets and numbers. We want an education system that delivers for the individual, whether that means going into further education, an apprenticeship or university. We want to ensure that every young person knows that whichever option they pick, it is a high-quality option.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer did not address why minimum entry requirements for GSCE English and maths are being proposed despite their negative impact on disadvantaged students.
Changing The Subject
Response accuracy