Phillipson pledges to reverse ‘baked-in’ inequalities as A-level results loom

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. I don't want young people to be put off applying to university on the basis of financial imperative and sadly I think increasingly we're seeing young people making decisions based on their finances and that's a really big challenge Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson She also called on universities to do more to widen participation and access to higher education, as well as offer “ongoing support” to students once they are on degree courses to ensure they do not drop out. It’s a moral cause, but it’s also a big driver of some of these disparities that we see and it’s why we need to take action to support schools.” She added: “This is an enormous task and I don’t shy away from that in one second.” I think it's a scandal that we've got these gaps in our country, whether they're regional or whether they're disadvantage-related Sir Ian Bauckham, chief regulator at Ofqual Shadow education secretary Damian Hinds defended his party’s record, saying: “Our record speaks for itself – with over 27,000 extra teachers, 90% of schools now rated good or outstanding, school funding at the highest ever level in real terms per pupil and English children now the best readers in the western world. Ms Phillipson said: “University is a fantastic option, but lots of people still don’t think it’s for them and that has to change.” She added: “I want to work with universities to ensure that we are widening access, but also we’re making sure that young people have the support that they need to complete their courses.” When asked whether the Government is considering bringing back maintenance grants in England to support poorer students facing financial pressures amid the cost-of-living crisis, Ms Phillipson told the PA news agency she was determined to “reform the system”. “But I don’t want young people to be put off applying to university on the basis of financial imperative and sadly I think increasingly we’re seeing young people making decisions based on their finances and that’s a really big challenge.” Jo Saxton, chief executive of Ucas, wrote to all new MPs after the general election to draw to their attention the higher education progression rates of 18-year-olds in their constituencies.