Fewer students from Scunthorpe and district signing up for university challenge
UNIVERSITY applications have dropped drastically in parts of North Lincolnshire, with some areas among those with the biggest declines in the country.
Scunthorpe has seen a marginal decrease in the number of applications, which dropped by two per cent in 2012, compared to the previous year.
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OPTIONS: John Leggott College principal David Vasse with students Sarah Jayne Smith, 17, Danielle Frisby, 19, and Alice Lambert, 18 Picture: Carl Gac
In Scunthorpe there were 2,346 university applications in 2011. This dropped by 2.4 per cent to 2,289 in 2012.
But Brigg and Goole saw a much greater decline, with 557 fewer students choosing to apply for university, a drop of more than 20 per cent compared to 2011.
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A total of 2,721 students applied for university in 2011. This dropped by 20.4 per cent in 2012 to 2,164.
This fall in applications makes Brigg and Goole the ninth worst-affected area in the UK and the worst in Yorkshire and the Humber.
Some teachers believe that the fall in applications has been sparked by the recent rise in tuition fees, with this year's intake of university students the first to pay higher fees.
Mark Bradley, assistant principal at The Vale Academy and director of Brigg Sixth Form, said: "The biggest impact is the increase in tuition fees which is putting students off going to university.
"When we speak to students and talk about progressing, the fees and financial impact have been the biggest influence on their decision. Personally I think a lot depends on how they perceive the fees. They can look at it as either debt or an investment.
"I don't know why the fall in applications is so much greater in Brigg and Goole. From our point of view we have a good uptake of students going to university.
"The trend is good going into next year and we have a 14 per cent increase in the number of university applications from Brigg sixth form students. Although we have a smaller cohort, the percentage of applications has increased."
In Yorkshire and the Humber there have been 15,000 fewer applications to university by prospective students, a fall of 8.4 per cent.
David Vasse, principal at John Leggott College in Scunthorpe, has not seen a decrease in the number of applications among his students.
"We are noticing that students still apply in large numbers, but are now keeping their options open all the way to the last stage," he said.
"When students got their results in the summer they were, as ever, meeting the requirements of their offers. But following advice and guidance 82 of them decided not to go to university."
The figures relate to UCAS applications before June 30 each year.
Comments
by Oldironfan
Thursday, November 22 2012, 4:51PM
“Depending on your political persuasion, the escalation in fees over the couple of years can be described as fair, unfortunate or disgraceful.
Those students who continue to apply to university realise that there are no 'up-front costs'. Pay-back time only kicks in when you start working and earn over £21,000 p.a. Even then you only pay 9% of the amount above £21000. So if you earn £22,000 you pay 9% of £1000 = £90.
So it is really a graduate tax. Remember that although the fees may have tripled over the last year, you don't pay back any more per month.
I'm not arguing one way or another about the fairness of the system but if schools and colleges have presented the realities about fees to their students and cut through the media hype, the benefits of a university education both socially and academically will still be seen to outweigh the risks of graduate unemployment. If you experience the latter you don't pay the money back.”
by AlexTurner
Thursday, November 22 2012, 4:34PM
“Check out how your constituency has fared, and see the full data set, at http://tinyurl.com/bsmgkfd”
by englander61
Thursday, November 22 2012, 1:27PM
“Will council still be building the new one now , Seems there will be no need for it.”
by Pizik
Thursday, November 22 2012, 12:57PM
“The one thing I am certain you do not need a degree for is understanding why applications have dropped. Tuition fee increases.”
by Merlin1964
Thursday, November 22 2012, 9:56AM
“Maybe Dumb and Dumber in number 10 could give us the answer to this puzzle!”