education in Scotland and England - University of Edinburgh · education in Scotland and England...
Transcript of education in Scotland and England - University of Edinburgh · education in Scotland and England...
Young people’s views of higher
education in Scotland and England
Sarah Minty, Research Fellow
Centre for Research in Education Inclusion &
Diversity, University of Edinburgh
Follow us on Twitter: @Indy_Scot_HE
Tweet using #HEScot
Overview
Post-school plans
Views on tuition fees – now and in the future
Attitudes to debt
Knowledge and understanding of student finance
Access to HE
Contextual admissions
The referendum on independence
Our future: young people’s views on
higher education in Scotland
In total, 148 young people aged 14 to 19 were interviewed
during the two stages to the research:
• 89 young people in Scotland were interviewed for the
film, ‘Our Future: young people’s views of HE in
Scotland’
• A further 59 young people in Scotland and the north of
England took part in more in-depth interviews
121 young people in Scotland and 27 in England
From: 12 state schools, 1 independent school,
2 sixth form colleges and 1 FE college
Post-school plans (%)
Pros and cons of higher
education
Majority looking forward to going to university
Employability viewed as the principle purpose of university
Individualistic and instrumental views of HE prioritised
over the intrinsic value of learning and societal good of
university
…but widespread fears about graduate employment
opportunities as HE participation increases
Pupils spoke of feeling pressured to go to university
Perceived lack of alternatives explored in school
Those not planning to go to university felt side-lined
College vs university
I felt pressured into going to uni instead of college just because
I feel like people frown upon it a wee bit to go to college and
they don’t think that it’s the right way to go. But if it’s what you
want to do then you should be allowed to do it.
[…]
I think it’s coming from the school and then your friends
obviously. But they don’t mean it in a bad way but they’re just
like, ‘oh that’s different. We’re all going to uni and then you’re
the only one going to college’. You just feel a bit singled out.
And you’re too embarrassed to tell people in case they frown
upon it. (Laura, South Lanarkshire)
Who should pay for higher
education?
Scotland
76% of Scottish pupils believed higher education should be free for all
Perceived link between free HE and widening access
Pupils from more deprived areas in Scotland more likely to suggest
that those who can afford it should pay
North of England
76% of north of England pupils said students should contribute to costs
of HE
But anger that fees are so high (£3,000 considered reasonable)
Fees ensure students ‘appreciate’ their learning. Concern that free HE
is ‘wasted’
Alternative views on fees
I think they should definitely be universal to everybody. I mean
tuition fees especially ‘cause I feel that education’s a right, not a
privilege. So it shouldn’t just be the elite people who get, like,
put first and therefore get an education. (Emily, Edinburgh
South)
I would probably say half and half [funding should be split
between student and state]. ‘Cause I do agree with what you’re
saying that I don’t think they would appreciate it as much if it’s
free. ‘Cause I don’t think I would ,‘cause I don’t think you
appreciate something that you get for free. But something that
you’re going to have to work hard for, I think you cherish it
more. (Michelle, Tyne & Wear)
Future of free tuition in Scotland:
‘it all depends on the referendum’
It’s hard but deep down I don’t think we will [retain free tuition]. I
think maybe in the next 8 to 10 years I see, especially with the
independence thing coming in, I think if Scotland go independent we
won’t be able maintain the National Health Service for a start. I
don’t think we’ll be able to continue free health service, dental care
and stuff and education I think will be pushed to the side and we’ll
be more focussed on money towards health care rather than money
towards education . (Iain, South Lanarkshire)
I think Scotland will always have the free tuition fees. I think it might
be one of the things that people really agree with in Scotland. So I
think the free tuition fees will stay. (Callum, South Lanarkshire)
rUK fees: ‘how unfair is that?!’
rUK fees
Pupils in both countries felt that the charging of rUK students to
study in Scotland is ‘unfair’
Concerns that indy Scotland may not be able to charge rUK fees
– potentially impacting on Scottish places
Lack of understanding around issues of HE funding and
devolution
It’s a bit annoying because why do Scottish citizens get free and
we don’t when we’re in the same country. What makes the
Scottish special so they don’t, and we have to pay? And
especially with EU students coming across – how come they don’t
have to pay and we do? Are we paying for them? I’m not sure
how it works. (John, Tyne & Wear)
Attitudes towards debt
Scottish pupils substantially more debt averse than
those in north of England (especially those from
deprived areas)
Debt was normalised in north of England
Scottish pupils saw loans as ‘last resort’
Many planned to avoid debt partly by living at home
(41% of Scots planned to live at home vs 14% from
north of England)
Attitude to debt informed by level of understanding of
student funding and support
Knowledge and understanding
of student finance
Poor understanding of student finance and student
support across all schools and colleges visited
Knowledge and understanding much worse in Scotland,
particularly amongst those from more deprived areas
and/ or first in family applicants
Some Scots:
o Saw English fees as being upfront charges
o Confused English and Scottish loan repayments
o Misunderstood how maintenance loans are repaid
Access: ‘it’s up to the individual
to do well’
I think it doesn’t matter what area you come from, if you want it
you can get it. So if you are at a state school and you want to go
to uni you can go to uni if you just work hard. The same as private
school students if they want to go to uni they’ll just work as hard. I
think it’s up to an individual as well, it doesn’t matter what area
you come from. I think as an individual if that’s your dream you
can do it. (James, South Lanarkshire)
I think there’s certain, you know, there’s a few of the high unis, the
biggest Unis like Cambridge, Oxford like the ones in England – I
think them ones they might look at your background and stuff like
that, but others, I think it’s just everyone’s got a chance. It doesn’t
matter if you’re wealthy, rich or wherever you come from.
(Luke, Tyne & Wear)
Social background determines
access
I mean, people from more affluent areas and better schools are more
likely to get the exam results. So people from less well-off areas are
gonna have to work harder to get there. And it’s to get to the same place
really. So it would be more difficult. People from affluent areas would
have an easier time getting there, I think.
(Neil, Glasgow North)
I think the person who went to the private school has a lot more
advantages than the person who doesn’t. If they go to private school I’m
assuming that their parents are very well off and they’ll get private tuition
and have hobbies and interests which will relate to it more. So the person
who’s gone to a state school and lives in a single family, and the mam’s
on minimum wage, if they’re getting really good grades, they’ve put a lot
of their own effort in and their own time into it instead of having somebody
hold their hand the whole way through. (David, Tyne & Wear)
Majority support the rationale behind the policy but many
claim it is ‘unfair’
I think sometimes, I agree with you, but sometimes it levels the
playing field a bit. ‘Cause if somebody’s had to work so much
harder to get to a position that comes naturally for somebody
else due to like… So I think a bit of equality might be nice.
But it’s a difficult position because I wouldn’t like to be given a
handout. I’d find it quite patronising. But then it could be a
gift for somebody else. (Katie, NE2.2)
Contextual admissions
The referendum on
independence
Majority (58%) plan to vote no; 13% yes; 29% undecided
Majority welcome votes at 16, but many are suspicious of
political motive to lower voting age
High level of engagement in the debate
…but desire for targeted, unbiased information,
particularly from undecided voters
Concern for pupils not taking Modern Studies – how do
they get their information?
Issues for consideration
Perception that free tuition improves access for non-traditional
students, and concerns that high fees in England may deter
these students
…but many question about the sustainability of free tuition in
Scotland
Poor levels of knowledge and understanding of student finance -
those with the least knowledge were the most worried about
debt
Perceived lack of alternatives to higher education
Differing ideas of fairness impacting on views of contextual
admissions