GOVERNMENT U-TURN ON GAP YEARS FOLLOWS MP's SURVEY OF LOCAL SIXTH FORMERS

12.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 23rd Jun 2004

The Government has conceded the case for students taking a gap year in 2005 to be exempt from top-up fees when they enter university in 2006.

The U-turn follows a long campaign by David Rendel MP.

Just 2 weeks ago - on 8 June - Ministers in the House of Lords argued that no such concession was needed and refused to support it.

On 22 June, Mr Rendel launched the results of a major survey of lower-sixth formers about gap years. In West Berkshire -

1) 37% had decided not to take a gap year in 2005 because of the prospect of having to pay higher fees the following year.

2) A further 39% said that they were less likely to take a gap year for the same reason.

3) Of those who thought about taking a gap year but decided against it, 79% gave top-up fees as the reason and a further 12% said that top-up fees were a factor.

Commenting on today's U-turn, Mr Rendel said:

"I am delighted that the Government has finally accepted our argument that a failure to provide a fees concession for those wanting to take a gap year in 2005 would have been deeply damaging to students, gap year organisations and universities.

"Many students from less-traditional backgrounds would have been pushed out because of the scramble for university places in that one year.

"Just two weeks ago the Government was denying there was any need for a concession. But since then our survey revealed that there was a very real problem. So it is good that the Government has changed its mind."

ENDS