Universities challenged to sponsor schools as fees rise

These links could help boost the numbers of poorer teenagers going into higher education, new guidance published by the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) suggested.

It said universities should be encouraged to have “strong links” with schools with pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The call is included in OFFA’s new guidance to universities on completing “access agreements” for the 2013/14 academic year.

Every institution planning to charge over £6,000 in fees now has set out how they plan to ensure poorer students are not priced out.

The agreements are reviewed each year, and universities that fail to meet their targets face fines, and may lose the right to charge more than £6,000.