'£9,000 fees haven't put students off university' (From Bucks Free Press)

'£9,000 fees haven't put students off university'

12:00pm Friday 17th August 2012 in Marlow By James Nadal

'£9,000 fees haven't put students off university'

A HUGE hike in university tuition fees has not put off sixth formers going into higher education, two secondary school headteachers say.

Year 13 students at Great Marlow School and Sir William Borlase's Grammar School appear to have bucked the national trend.

The number of applicants accepted by universities nationwide has dipped by seven per cent.

A study by University of Roehampton revealed that many students were confused about the new fee system, coming into effect for the first time for this batch of school leavers.

Many believed the fees, as much £9,000 per year, had to be paid up front. But nothing has to be paid until graduation, with students paying only once their salary reaches £21,000.

Geralyn Wilson, headteacher at Great Marlow in Bobmore Lane, said: "As regards fees that hasn't had an effect on our children at all. All the students who wanted to go to university have got in at the place of their choice."

Dr Peter Holding, headteacher at Borlase's, in West Street, said: "Virtually all our students apply to top universities, the pattern hasn't changed this year, there's just as many applying.

"My suspicion is that our students still want to go to unviestiy but are being a little more demanding and picky as to their choice."

Business, science and maths and courses with a more vocational slant have increased, as students look more at career opportunities university degrees may offer, he explained.

He added: "There's been some anxiety (about fees) but they still see the value of going to university and are taking a calculated decision that it's absolutely the right decision."

Are you a parent whose child got their A-Level result yesterday? Or are you an A-level student yourself? What difference has the new fee system made to your decision on university?

Leave your comments below.