The Higher Education sector, which aims for 50%+ participation for school leavers, is not working in the best interests of students and wider society and, in fact, it is causing real harm (debt, extra tax, falling standards, disillusionment). The misguided mantra of Education, Education, Education should be replaced with Education, Training, Work. The Massification of the Higher Education system (Mass HE) needs to be curtailed to around 15-30% participation, be offered at a lower cost to the students with other school leavers focussing on trainee roles across all work sectors & vocational on-the-job training. A large proportion of the public are clearly concerned that too many school leavers are going to University – yet current political discourse treats concerns about Mass HE as heresy.

Too many people are needlessly participating in Higher Education at great cost to themselves and the taxpayer

Student loans are costing most students 9% extra tax on their earnings for decades. Half of the new Type 5 loans are predicted to not be fully re-paid with the costs borne by general taxation. These dual tax burdens and overall fiscal drag factors are simply too high

The Marketisation of HE, with its profit motive, incentivises outcomes that are completely against the best interests of society

The rise of online teaching is destroying the University experience