This is my first In My View since becoming Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills and I’d like to talk about education.  We have just seen record breaking GCSE results in Southampton and, although I am concerned that our results are still not improving as fast as comparable areas, this is very welcome.  But what do these successful young people do now?

Since 1997 the number of students entering higher education has increased by 230,000 and funding for higher education institutions has risen by 20% in real terms.  But too many of our young people in Southampton do not think that university is for them.  A lack of a university education will limit the choices for these young people as we move more and more to a high skills economy. 

I’m committed to raising aspirations and expanding opportunities to enter higher education, and ensuring that our colleges and universities offer world class standards in teaching and research.  Only 28% of students from low income families enter higher education and we need to improve this figure.  I have therefore announced some major changes for students entering higher education from 2008.

Students from families with incomes of up to £25,000 will be entitled to full maintenance grants (£2700 per year) - at present only students from households with incomes of up to £17,500 are entitled to full grants.  Once the system is fully up and running, around 50,000 more students each year will receive full grants.  Students whose families have household incomes of up to £60,000 a year will be eligible for a partial grant.

But we also need to make younger students aware of the opportunities offered by higher education.  From academic year 2008/09 we will offer to all 16 year olds who qualify for the Education Maintenance Allowance a clear guarantee of the minimum level of maintenance grant and loan they will receive if they go to university or college.  Over 250,000 16 year olds a year will get the Guarantee.

This will help raise aspirations for higher education particularly among students from low income families and will demonstrate to young people embarking on study in sixth forms or colleges that there is a clear route for them into higher education.  I hope that more of Southampton’s young people will see university as something for them.