An Ipsos MORI poll commissioned by the Sutton Trust has shown that the number of students attending university would drop enormously if annual tuition fees were to rise to the anticipated figure of £7,000. The study asked 2,700 young people if they would continue in higher education if fees passed £7,000 - only 45% said they would. If fees increased to £10,000 only 25% thought they would be able to manage this amount. Of particular concern is the statistic that nearly a quarter of pupils in years 10 and 11 (23 per cent) said they knew nothing at all about how to get help with the costs of higher education.

Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of the Sutton Trust, said,

“If Lord Browne’s review concludes that higher fees are necessary, there is a significant task ahead in ensuring that all young people – and particularly those from non-privileged homes – are equipped with the information they need to make well-informed decisions,”