Record gap between rich and poor Suffolk students reaching university

Why it matters: The growing divide between Suffolk's poorest and most privileged students and increasing costs threatens to make higher education increasingly inaccessible for disadvantaged young people.

The big picture: The proportion of Suffolk pupils eligible for free school meals going to university dropped from 19.3% to 18.3% in the past year, creating a 23-percentage point gap between disadvantaged students and their wealthier peers.

University fees will rise to £9,535 from 2025-26, ending an eight-year freeze.

Professor Jenny Higham, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Suffolk, acknowledged the complexity of the situation when fee increases were announced in September, saying: "While students benefiting from higher education should contribute to the cost, there should also be a level of public funding to maintain these benefits."

What they're saying: Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has called the record gap "appalling" while defending the fee increase as necessary, insisting that "breaking the link between where a young person grows up, and the opportunities they have" remains central to government policy.

In response to the latest figures, a University of Suffolk spokesperson said: 

"The University of Suffolk is committed to supporting students from all backgrounds to access higher education, and we are proud of the work we do to support those from  the most disadvantaged areas and those who experience other barriers to being able to make an application to study with us successfully.

"The University has a wide range of activities in place to raise aspirations and offer support to potential students. These include being part of a regional initiative working with schools in the area to widen access to university, as well as supporting students to gain the relevant skills to thrive and succeed whilst studying with us. We offer awards and bursaries to support those from low-income households and disadvantaged areas."

Between the lines: The impact varies significantly by region:

• London leads with 48.6% of free school meals pupils reaching university

• In the East of England, the number sits at 24.3%

• Suffolk is just 18.3%

According to the University of Suffolk, the most recent data from the Office for Students shows that more than one third of their students come from the most disadvantaged areas of the UK.

The bottom line: While universities struggle with funding pressures, experts warn that without significant intervention to support disadvantaged students, we risk "failing a whole generation" of talented young people from poorer backgrounds.