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CHELGATE EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT JAMES DARLEY HAS LETTER PUBLISHED IN THE TIMES

Sir, The process of improving access to university for all is not going fast enough to meet Sir Peter Lampl’s agenda for rapid social re-engineering (“Forget costly UK universities. Go to America”, Opinion, July 12). Hence, he says that “It beggars belief that we demand the same A-level grades from a pupil at an inner-city comprehensive as from a pupil at a top state or private school”. Really? Is that the common view of educationalists? And who should make the judgment about demanding less? And how much lower would be appropriate?

Sir Peter adds: “It is glaringly obvious that postgraduate study will become increasingly unattractive to graduates from low or middle-income backgrounds, already loaded up with debt.” Is it entirely obvious?

Debt is a condition of life, it is normal; it has to be accepted by anyone with the nous to aspire to a degree. The load, insofar as student loans go, can be carried painlessly until the bearer is, if not loaded, then well be able to manage repayments. If this debt means delaying a house purchase, that is not a matter for public lament and intervention.

                                 

James Darley