Professor Jackie Dunne ‘The Spring 2025 Spending Review should do more to support students’
Everyone involved in higher education will welcome the recognition by Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education, in her statement to the House of Commons on 4th November 2024 that universities are a force for good not only in their contribution to the economy but also in the wider benefits that they bring to society and local communities.
The Cathedrals Group of Universities shares this vision. We have long believed that social justice demands that the opportunity to participate in higher education should be available to all regardless of background, previous educational experience and age. This is why we warmly endorse the Secretary of State’s call for more to be done to encourage and support participation by those from households and families that are the least well-off.
The student cohorts in our universities are some of the most diverse in the country. This is also why we know that many of our students have a hard time making ends meet. Often they progress to university when they are older. Some are parents and carers juggling home, family, university study and part-time work. If they are training to contribute to the NHS and school workforces as health professional staff or teachers, travelling to placements will come into the mix, often with associated and additional costs.