Students who fail GCSE English and maths could be denied student loans under government plans to be announced this week.
The Department for Education’s (DfE) outlined new proposals, which they say will ensure pupils “aren’t being pushed into higher education before they are ready”.
Ministers want to crack down on “poor quality” courses and help reduce the cost of universities to the taxpayer.
“Lower quality” refers to courses from which high numbers drop out and a low proportion go on to graduate jobs or further study.
Students who do not achieve at least a Grade 4 pass in English and maths at GCSE will be banned from getting a student loan.
The DfE has suggested that students who do not achieve 2 Es at A-level or equivalent may fall in line with their new higher education requirements.
The planned overhaul comes as the number of school-leavers opting to pursue higher education continues to rise, according to new figures.
Data from Ucas showed 320,000 sixth formers have applied for university places so far, compared with 306,000 in 2021.
A DfE spokesperson said in a statement: “Our universities are a great British success story. They are powerhouses of innovation and are playing a key part in revolutionising the skills system, helping making lifelong learning possible with more flexibility and technical training,”
“But we need to ensure that we are creating opportunities that will not only open doors but will develop the talent our country needs to prosper now and in the future,
“Higher education is an investment and we need to ensure that graduates are being rewarded for the money, time and effort they put into their studies with an educational experience and jobs that match their skills and help contribute to the economy.”
