The government doesn't think top universities are value for money

A leaked government report has shown that ministers do not believe Britain's best universities are good enough to charge £9,000 a year for. The report said that some of the country's top institutions "do not offer the quality and intensity of teaching we expect for £9k".

The leaked document. (Credit: Steve Back)

The report also notes that the increase in the limits universities can charge has not led to price competition, as was suggested when it was first brought in by the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition. It also suggests that universities are unwilling to drop their fees even if they are unable to offer a quality of teaching to match it.

The Telegraph quoted the document as saying:

“[There is] a stated goal of doubling the proportion of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds going to university by 2020,”
“BIS think we will never achieve this from the established sector alone (probably because of a combination of high entry requirements and reluctance to expand too fast) – and the extra boost in access could come from growth by alternative providers.”

This revelation led to critics of the government to suggest that the government has "thrown in the towel" on its plan to increase the number of disadvantaged young people going to universities.

Gordon Marsden, the shadow minister for universities and Labour MP, said:

“This leak is a shocking admittance of failure and shows what ministers really think of David Cameron’s flagship policy... The Government seem content to throw in the towel on efforts to widen participation in the existing higher education system, meaning that students from the least well-off families will be left behind.”