Nadeine Asbali points out that many young people from poorer backgrounds had much less chance of achieving high grades at A-level this year than their better-off peers did (These A-level students pulled off something remarkable. But close up the results tell a troubling story, 15 August). A further inequality is that families receiving universal credit (UC) lose the child element if a young person goes to university. However, if that person goes on to “non-advanced” education, the family still receives UC for them.
Universities can award bursaries, but they are very small. And students going on to higher education can apply for a loan, but this has to be repaid. Meanwhile, the loan does not cover all the costs of living away from home for three years, so families have to find a way to provide support, or students have to take on paid work.
