“We are very pleased to see the increase in the number of 18-year-olds going on to higher education, including those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, and it reflects the hard work of colleges and sixth forms in giving all their students the support that they need to take this step. We’d like to see more work done to make university affordable for all students however, as the current level of maintenance loans is often not sufficient for young people to be able to afford the costs of going to a university which involves living away from home, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. There also needs to be greater investment in careers advice which can easily be accessed by providers and students and ensures that young people are able to identify the routes which best suit them – whether this be higher education, apprenticeships, or other training opportunities – and helps them to navigate to their chosen destination.”