Thread by @MaryCurnockCook

I have to say, I'm loving the Augar Review. It's a terrific read (all 216 pages) - lots of insightful analysis (with historical context) and some ultra-thoughtfully crafted recommendations. Here are some stand outs for me:

In England, only 4% of 25 yos have Level 4/5 as highest qualification - compared to nearly 30% holding Level 3 or Level 6. Augar nails this system fault-line with proposal for 'Lifelong Learning Allowance' based on 30 credit funded credits to be built up as and when relevant

This has the potential to reverse the decline in PT and mature students of HE - good for @OpenUniversity @BirkbeckUoL FECs and others; traditional universities incentivised to think differently about three-year school-leaver model

All students should get a milestone qualification en route to achieving their degree - so they don't just accumulate credit. Easier to hop-on/hop-off, transfer, and change course - or restart later when surer about study/career goals

Uses extensively the @TheIFS analysis of public subsidy for different courses to support recommendation for base tuition fee of £7500 (as widely trailed), topped up by teaching grant in banded levels for higher cost subjects

Polite reprimand: "We judge that the current method of university funding has resulted in an accidental over-investment in some subjects and an under-investment in others that is at odds with the government’s Industrial
Strategy and with taxpayers’ interests"

"Government should have more say in how the state subsidy for higher education is spent - the average per-student resouce should be frozen for 3 further years from 20/21."

But recommends in addition a pupil-premium look alike , including for PT, mature and commuter students

Polite reprimand on Foundation Years and Year 0s: "It is hard not to conclude that universities are using foundation years to create four-year degrees in order to entice students who do not otherwise meet their standard entry criteria."

"The taxpayer is entitled to ask why universities are not collaborating with FECs on enrolling these students onto Access Diplomas with lower fees, more advantageous loan terms, and a standalone qualification"

Recommendation that student finance for Foundation Years is stopped - but with two academic years' notice
[What about the recent Oxbridge Year 0s??]

Eggshell approach to minimum qualification threshold with a two-year window for the sector to 'put its house in order' on vfm before OfS might have powers in exceptional circumstances to limit numbers, with contextual variations for disadvantaged and mature students

Plus: Reduce repayment threshold to £23K (median non-grad earnings), extend repayments to 40yrs, RPI interest only during study period, cap total repayment at 1.2 x original loan, major rebrand as 'student contribution system'

With this modelled outcome:

And for maintenance, a mix of grants, loans and transparent parental contribution

And another polite reprimand: "We note with surprise the absence of
any over-arching assessment of the impact of different approaches to widening participation and success."

Plus a whole section polite reprimand on 'market competition' covering grade inflation, lower entry requirements, unconditional offers, marketing spend, etc."

There's lots more too - overall system reform to emphasise post-18 system, not just HE but also FE and apprenticeships. Block out some reading time.

#AugarReview