UK at bottom of global education table

The UK has fallen to the bottom of international education tables over the past 12 years.

In this time it has been overtaken by Portugal, Korea, Ireland, and Hungary.

The tables which chart the percentage of children and students in full or part time education in developed countries shows the UK has joined Turkey, Mexico, and Luxembourg in having the lowest percentage of young people in education.

The other 24 developed countries all have a higher percentage of their young in education.

Analysis of these tables by the University and College Union (UCU) suggests that it is not just other developed countries which have better education records. It says that so called 'second tier' countries, partner countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, also have a higher percentage of young people in education. These include Russia, Brazil, Slovenia, and Estonia.

Sally Hunt, UCU general secretary, said: 'This shocking analysis brings home just how much the UK has to do if it wants to remain a key player in the new global knowledge economy. We cannot rely on our proud history when it comes to educational achievement or innovation.

'We have to face up to the fact that we cannot remain a first-world country with third-world levels of participation in education. Other developed countries are pulling away from us and the developing nations are catching up and looking like they will over take us.'

In 1995 the UK was 15th out of 30 on a table for the percentage of 15-19 year olds in public or private educational institutions. In 2007 it was in 26th position.

Ms Hunt added: 'The figures should worry us all. Sticking plaster policies from parties looking for votes just will not do. We need a genuine cross-party consensus on the issue.'

The UCU today launched Make Education Count Westminster network a cross-party group which aims to improve education in the UK.

One of its primary aims is make the UK's universities and colleges, which are worth £87 billion a year to the economy, beneficial to more young people.

Cameron says sorry over Hizb-ut-Tahrir

David Cameron has apologised to the Commons after admitting the Conservatives got it wrong over state funding for the Islamist organisation Hizb-ut-Tahrir.

At prime minister's questions last week the Tory leader relayed concerns from his shadow children's secretary that the £113,000 from the Pathfinder fund responsible for tackling extremism had been redirected by two Muslim schools towards Hizb-ut-Tahrir.

The Islamist group has faced sustained criticism from the government for its extremist views, which include the creation of a pan-Islamic state, but it has not met the criteria to be proscribed as a terrorist group.

On Monday Mr Cameron admitted his party had made a mistake following angry retorts by children's secretary Ed Balls.

'It is now clear that the Pathfinder fund responsible for tackling extremism was not involved,' he said.

'I am sorry for the error and am a firm believer that when you get something wrong you should put it right.'

In the wake of Mr Cameron's claims last week Mr Balls resolved to ban extremist teachers from UK schools.

But he said there was 'no evidence' to support the Tory suggestions and indicated that the erroneous claims could play into the hands of Islamic extremists and the far-right.

Tesco chief: School standards 'woefully low'

Standards in Britain's state schools under the current Labour government are at 'woefully low' levels, the chief executive of Tesco has said.

Sir Terry Leahy said the overuse of government agencies 'issuing reams of instructions to teachers' was preventing Britain's teachers from getting on 'with the task at hand: teaching children'.

At the Institute of Grocery Distribution's annual conference, Sir Terry, who is a member of the National Council for Educational Excellence (NCEE), a body which advises the prime minister on education, said: 'As the largest private employer in the country, we depend on high standards in our schools.

'Sadly, despite all the money that has been spent, standards are still woefully low in too many schools.

'Employers like us, and I suspect many of you, are often left to pick up the pieces.'

But the Department for Children, Schools and Families has hit back at Sir Terry's comments, saying 'standards have never been higher'.

They added: 'There are several non-departmental bodies, but it's clearly right and proper that issues such as exam standards are regulated by an independent body.'

However, Sir Terry's comments were echoed by John Cridland, director general of the CBI, who said the concerns were 'shared by a wide range of the business community'.

UK has four universities in global top ten

The UK has had four of its universities placed in the top ten institutions in the world.

The table is put together by the Times Higher Education survey, based on a survey of academics and graduate employers worldwide.

This year the US lost six universities in the top 100, and Oxford University slipped from fourth to fifth place. Harvard was still top, with Cambridge moving up from third to second place.

The table showed good news for Europe as a whole, which saw its universities gain three more places in the top 100, from 36 last year to 39 this year.

Ben Sowter, head of the QS Intelligence Unit, which compiled the rankings, said: 'The rise of University College London and Imperial College in recent years shows that concerted research efforts can result in improved performance in the increasingly competitive field of global higher education.'

And the Russell Group, who are committed to maintaining the highest standards of research, education and knowledge at UK universities said the results are good but more investment is need.

Today's table showed four Russell Group universities in the top six in the world.

Dr Wendy Piatt, director general of The Russell Group of Universities, said: 'The broad message of these tables is clear – the leading UK research universities are held in high esteem internationally but countries like China and Korea, which are investing massively in their best institutions, are snapping at our heels.

'The UK has been punching above its weight for some time. As a recent OECD report highlighted, our competitor countries are investing much more of both public and private money in higher education – with the UK below average in terms of total HE investment as a proportion of GDP.

'If we allow ourselves to fall behind our international rivals, we will lose our ability to attract the world class academics, vital business investment and leading international students. League table bragging rights would be the least of our worries.'

Gove to fight "comprehensive decline in exam standards"

Examination boards responsible for the dumbing down of science qualifications will be replaced under a Conservative government, Michael Gove has warned.

The shadow children's secretary said science teaching and exams had felt the brunt of dumbing down.

'In GCSE science we ask students if nurses leave the room during X-ray sessions in hospital for health reasons, or because their mobile phone might melt, or they might get a tan,' he told the Tory party conference in Manchester.

'We ask students which is a better argument for nuclear power - creating jobs or creating toxic waste.

'We ask students which is healthier – a battered sausage or grilled fish.'

Mr Gove said the 'terrifying evidence' had led him to the conclusion that a 'comprehensive decline in examination standards was being witnessed.

'What should we do with people who think that this country can become a scientific leader by asking about sausages in batter? They've just got to go,' he said.

'And under a Conservative government the people who've been responsible for dumbing down our examination system will go.'

Mr Gove also pledged to replace the country's worst performing schools with academies run by proven sponsors.

Under his plans any schools shown to have been in special measures for over a year would have their leaders replaced by the end of the next school year and reopened as academies by September 2011.

All schools would be able to apply for academy status, he continued, with schools ranked as outstanding by Ofted automatically qualifying.

'That is the way to give parents what they want – smaller schools with smaller classes, good behaviour, great teachers and restored confidence in the curriculum,' he added.

Students staying in education amid job fears

Over a third of students are planning to continue their studies next year amid fears there will be no job opportunities available when they graduate.

In a joint report from the National Union of Students (NUS) and HSBC, two thirds of final year students admit to being concerned about the current economic climate.

In the Students in Employment and Post Course Plans survey, researchers found that middle-class students were more likely than any other group to have to support themselves financially while at university.

NUS president Wes Streeting said: 'It is clearly an extremely worrying time for many students, with top up fees leaving them in record levels of debt and graduate job prospects drying up.

'Middle-class students in particular are feeling the pinch. They do not qualify for grants or bursaries, but their families are not earning enough to support them through a degree.

'It is remarkable that some vice chancellors are still insensitive enough to call for even higher fees during a time of economic crisis. They have to acknowledge that students and their families are already bearing enough of a burden.'

The joint survey found 30 per cent of final year students said they had changed their plans for after they graduate as a result of the economic climate, and 38 per cent of final year students planned to do further study, up from 27 per cent last year.

The survey also found 42.5 per cent of students from middle-income families work during term time, compared to just 36 per cent from poorer families and 27 per cent of students from richer families.

A recent report from Universities UK said graduates would owe an average of over £26,000 if the cap on fees were raised to £5,000 a year, and over £32,000 if the cap were raised to £7,000 a year.

Over 100 teachers disciplined over sexual misconduct

Almost 150 teachers in England have been disciplined or sacked for sexual misconduct over the last two years, according to government figures.

A Freedom of Information request from More4 shows 49 out of 56 of the sacked teachers were reported to the police.

Sexual misconduct can range from sexual assault, to sex with a pupil, or showing students pornographic material.

Barry Sheerman, chairman of the Commons school select committee, said: 'I feel very strongly that any sexual relationship between a teacher and a pupil is absolutely unforgivable.

'Under the 2004 Children's Act it is illegal and children should be protected in that educational environment, and most parents look to teachers to be custodians of the child's protection and rights.'

The figures, provided by 100 local authorities in England, show 52 teachers were disciplined in 2007/08, and 40 were disciplined in 2008/09.

In 2007/08, 31 teachers lost their jobs for sexual misconduct, while 25 were sacked in 2008/09.

UK universities 'need more funds'

A report has found the UK is the major European provider of higher education to international students, but there are claims more government spending is still needed.

According to a report, 'Patterns of higher education institutions in the UK' by Universities UK, higher education institutions saw a 48 per cent rise in incoming international students between 2000 and 2006, and the UK had the highest number of research publications in the top one per cent of citations over the period.

Universities UK said the figures represent a real 'success'. However, the National Union of Students (NUS) says the UK is 'still lagging behind the rest of Europe'.

Across the UK, the report found undergraduate enrolment had increased 25 per cent in the last ten years, but the proportion of male students in higher education had declined significantly, with women accounting for 75 per cent of the growth.

Despite this, the report showed minority ethnic groups and students from social classes four, five, six and seven had all increased.

A key finding of the report was that the percentage of women in engineering and technology was 'relatively weak' compared to the rest of Europe, but UK universities do employ more women in academic roles than their counterparts in most Western European countries.

Professor Geoffrey Crossick, chair of Universities UK's longer term strategy group, said: 'This year's Patterns [report] highlights the success of UK universities in challenging their counterparts in Europe, particularly in research and development and in attracting international students.

'The report also demonstrates how the diversity of the UK higher education sector has increased over the last ten years, giving students from a wide range of backgrounds the opportunity to study at and beyond first degree level.'

But the NUS claims the UK is still lagging behind Europe and the government must invest more into UK universities.

The student group also said the figures in today's report have 'been superseded by new OECD findings, published earlier this month, which reveal that the UK spends 20 per cent less of its gross domestic product (GDP) on universities than France, ten per cent less than the US, and ten per cent less than the OECD average'.

NUS President Wes Streeting said: 'We need to continue to expand our higher education system for the long-term social and economic good of the country. It is extremely worrying that we are lagging behind the rest of Europe in terms of public spending on universities.

'We understand the pressures on public finances, but the government would do well to seek savings in other areas of public expenditure rather than rationing educational opportunity. Ahead of next year's general election we call on all political parties to match their rhetoric on widening participation and investing in education with firm spending commitments.'

Mr Streeting's words were echoed by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) who said more funding was needed.

Martin Freedman, head of pay, conditions and pensions at ATL, said: 'We recognise that in a recession difficult choices about public funding have to be made, but if we fail to invest in education we will not have people with the skills to take advantage of technological and commercial developments and our economy will lag behind.'

Balls advocates education spending cuts

The schools secretary for England, Ed Balls, has suggested education spending could be cut by up to £2 billion through a series of cost-cutting measures.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, Mr Balls suggested restraining pay in the sector and cutting back on numbers of senior staff could yield significant savings.

Mr Balls said the current economic crisis calls for 'disciplined' action on salaries, although he ruled out increasing class sizes or cutting back on front-line staff.

'It is going to be tougher on spending over the next few years,' he told the newspaper.

'If we are going to keep teachers and teaching assistants on the front line that means we are going to have to be disciplined on public sector pay, including in education.'

The news comes after reports from the Conservatives that prime minister Gordon Brown is planning a post-election income tax rise if he is re-elected in order to maintain levels of public spending.

However, Mr Balls refuted this suggestion and said cutting back on 'natural wastage' would provide enough wiggle room in the education budget.

Clegg faces 'weasel' jibe over tuition fees

Nick Clegg has faced continuing anger at the Liberal Democrat party conference over his refusal to commit to an unequivocal scrapping of university tuition fees.

The party leader was accused of 'weasel words' despite saying he wanted to abolish the fees 'as soon as possible'.

'I believe tuition fees are wrong. I believe they need to be abolished... and I want to do that as soon as possible,' Mr Clegg said on Saturday.

The issue dominated a Q&A session in Bournemouth on Sunday.

'There is no question-mark over the policy of the Liberal Democrats to scrap tuition fees,' Mr Clegg elaborated. 'The only question-mark is about when we can afford to scrap tuition fees.'

At this point a delegate shouted: 'Weasel words.'

Mr Clegg pointed out the 'significant financial implications' of an immediate move away from tuition fees, saying over the course of the next parliament they would open up a £12 billion hole.

When one questioner told him that this policy was about 'a lot more than just money', Mr Clegg insisted 'candour' was important too.

'There's quite a lot of uncertainty around which we can't do much about,' he added.

The leader was not applauded for his remarks. But he was later on when, talking about the importance of ensuring young people do not suffer in the recession, he stated 'these are the last people who deserve to be punished for the legacy of this recession'.

Clegg faces 'weasel' jibe over tuition fees

Nick Clegg has faced continuing anger at the Liberal Democrat party conference over his refusal to commit to an unequivocal scrapping of university tuition fees.

The party leader was accused of 'weasel words' despite saying he wanted to abolish the fees 'as soon as possible'.

'I believe tuition fees are wrong. I believe they need to be abolished... and I want to do that as soon as possible,' Mr Clegg said on Saturday.

The issue dominated a Q&A session in Bournemouth on Sunday.

'There is no question-mark over the policy of the Liberal Democrats to scrap tuition fees,' Mr Clegg elaborated. 'The only question-mark is about when we can afford to scrap tuition fees.'

At this point a delegate shouted: 'Weasel words.'

Mr Clegg pointed out the 'significant financial implications' of an immediate move away from tuition fees, saying over the course of the next parliament they would open up a £12 billion hole.

When one questioner told him that this policy was about 'a lot more than just money', Mr Clegg insisted 'candour' was important too.

'There's quite a lot of uncertainty around which we can't do much about,' he added.

The leader was not applauded for his remarks. But he was later on when, talking about the importance of ensuring young people do not suffer in the recession, he stated 'these are the last people who deserve to be punished for the legacy of this recession'.

University 'cuts' report met with anger

A higher education report out today has been met with anger by key university institutions.

In the report, Confederation of British Industry (CBI) researchers said the government's target for 50 per cent of 18-30 year olds to participate in higher education (HE) should be scrapped and that increases in fees were 'inevitable'.

They also said university student support would need to be cut.

The report has been met with anger from higher education groups, who have called it 'offensive' and the same 'tired business rhetoric'.

The CBI report said HE faced tough choices in the recession, saying 'the rapid rise in student numbers, coupled with a severe strain on public finances, makes current public funding levels unsustainable'. But the report, Stronger together- businesses ad universities in turbulent times, did recognise the vital contribution HE played in the UK.

Sam Laidlaw, chairman of the CBI HE Task Force and CEO of Centrica, said: 'The UK has a world-class higher education sector.

'But it faces some urgent challenges including the changing needs of business, intensifying international competition, and constrained public sector funding. Universities and government cannot deliver a world class service alone.

'Effective collaboration between the higher education sector, business and government will be critical to the UK's economic recovery and sustainable international competitiveness. Business must also make a sustained effort in supporting higher education.'

The report proposes more businesses should work with universities to sponsor students studying subjects relevant to business, such as science and technology, provide financial support to new graduates, through bonuses when they sign on with the firm, offer more opportunities for internships, placements, work experience or projects, and view working with universities as part of core innovation activity.

But it also highlighted that cuts would have to be made in certain areas. Richard Lambert, CBI director-general, said: 'The economic downturn makes cuts to public funding for HE inevitable, so new sources of funding have to be found.

'On funding, our Task Force considered - and rejected - three options open to the government: cutting research funding, slashing teaching budgets and reducing student numbers. Instead, we say that savings should come from the student support system.

'Of course, it's never easy to ask students to pay more, but the UK's student support is on a par with some of the most generous in the world, and the priority must be to preserve quality as well as assisting those unable to pay to ensure that higher education remains open to all.'

The National Union of Students (NUS) also condemned the report.

NUS president Wes Streeting said: 'At a time of economic crisis, when many hard working families are struggling to support their offspring through university, I am astonished that the CBI should be making such offensive recommendations.

'Students are already leaving university with record levels of debt, while graduate job prospects are at an all time low. Instead of recommending that students are fleeced even more than they already are, the CBI should start looking at how they might put something back into the system themselves.'

And the University and College Union (UCU) said the report added 'nothing new to the debate on university funding'.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'The silence on the future of higher education from the main political parties is allowing tired business rhetoric to be viewed as a real contribution to the debate.

'The proposals in the CBI report offer absolutely nothing new and merely list the obvious ways to increase student debt. To suggest that a rise in tuition fees is inevitable because the CBI favours that approach is quite incredible, particularly with the country in recession.

'We need a fair system where every potential student has the opportunity to maximise their potential. Increasing fees, or the other financial barriers that so many students and parents come up against when considering university, is certainly not the way to deliver that system.'

Obama to school kids: Make us proud

Barack Obama has urged American children to stay in school and work hard to achieve their potential, telling them that in the US 'you write your own destiny'.

In an address to schoolchildren, the US president said on Tuesday there was currently great hope and potential in America but its fulfilment required continual hard work and people taking personal responsibility.

Mr Obama began his speech: 'I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself. Every single one of you has something that you're good at. Every single one of you has something to offer.

'And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That's the opportunity an education can provide.'

He added that while school may not always necessarily be fun or stimulating, hard work was required no matter what a student's circumstances were.

'The circumstances of your life - what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you've got going on at home - none of that is an excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude in school,' he said.

'That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. There is no excuse for not trying.

'Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up. No one's written your destiny for you, because here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.'

Mr Obama said his administration were dedicated to improving education in America, but said students had to play their part to calling on the children to 'get serious' this year.

'I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don't let us down,' he added.

'Don't let your family down or your country down. Most of all don't let yourself down. Make us all proud.'

Calls for work placement subsidy for unemployed teens

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has called for work placements subsidies for unemployed 16 and 17 year-olds.

The CIPD said the 'uphill struggle' facing GCSE school-leavers is exemplified in their latest quarterly CIPD/KPMG Labour Market Outlook (LMO) of more than 900 employers.

The results show 16 to 18 year-olds are currently less likely to be hired than the long-term unemployed, with 24 per cent of employers planning to hire from this age group during the current quarter.

In contrast, almost two-thirds of employers are hiring from the 19-24 age category, with a similar proportion of employers planning to recruit older workers.

Gerwyn Davies, CIPD public policy adviser, believes a six-month work placement subsidy of £1,250 per person could offer 'vital help' for 30 per cent of 16 to 17 year-olds who have been unemployed for more than six months.

Mr Davies said: 'School-leavers seeking work this year face a difficult enough task finding an employer willing to take on young people, let alone find a job.

'These results suggest that government policy needs to be changed to give similar help to unemployed 16-17 year-olds as that which is given to other targeted unemployed groups. The September guarantee of a training or education place for young people is welcome but is unlikely to offer a full solution to the emerging youth unemployment and NEET crisis.

'The work placement subsidy would therefore be a useful addition to the armoury of measures targeted as mounting youth joblessness and go some way towards helping pressured companies do their bit for what is becoming a national crisis.'

CIPD say their figures consistent with the official figures from the Labour Force Survey, which show that 16-17 year-olds are suffering most of all in the jobs market.

More than 200,000 16-17 year olds – one in three – are now unemployed and actively seeking work. Most alarmingly, the number of 16-17 year-olds who have been unemployed for more than a year has increased by almost 100 per cent, to over 20,000 during the past year.

'Lack of experience' was found to be the main barrier to recruiting young people.

Schools urged to help parents buy children's uniforms

Council leaders have urged schools to provide more help to parents when it comes to buying their children's uniform.

The Local Government Agency (LGA) has called on schools to use two or more suppliers in an effort to keep costs down during the current economic climate.

The new school year starts again next month for over seven million children in state-funded primary and secondary schools in England.

While school uniform items are today sold in some supermarkets for only a couple of pounds, some schools still have uniforms which are only available from specialist suppliers.

A recent survey found 17 per cent of parents could only get their children's schools uniform from a single designated shop or via the school itself.

And guidance introduced two years ago warned schools they could face challenges under the Competition Act if they only used one supplier.

Council leaders have today urged parents to do more to hold their school governors to account for decisions on uniform policy.

The LGA has published a three-point plan today which it claims all schools should adhere to in order to help parents.

The plan includes a requirement for all uniform to be made available from a minimum of two different suppliers, school symbols and logos to be available as sew-on patches and parents given opportunities to buy and sell second hand uniform from other parents.

Cllr Margaret Eaton, chairman of the LGA, said: 'All families will have experienced the annual chore of shopping for the return to school, stocking up on pens and pencils as well as investing in shoes and uniform.

'It's not cheap at the best of times and with a growing number of people feeling the pinch because of the recession it's a bill most of us could use some help with.

'Many councils offer grants to families struggling to pay for uniform, but schools have the power to reduce this burden for both parents and taxpayers. Offering uniforms from a number of retailers and making it easier to attach logos to widely available clothing lets schools keep their individuality while bringing in the necessary competition to keep costs down.'

Swine flu latest: No school closures planned

The government has said it does not expect to order widespread school closures to prevent the spread of swine flu this autumn.

Despite a lull in a number of new cases, it had been speculated the new school term could be put back to avoid the H1N1 virus regrouping.

The government's chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson told journalists on Thursday a second wave of the virus was expected, but that automatic school closures were not the best course of action.

'We can't be sure that the schools closing [for summer] are the only reason for the reduction [in cases]; we saw a peak in Scotland after they closed,' he said.

It was today revealed that in the last week the number of new cases was slowing, with 11,000 in the last seven days.

The number of consultations with GPs is also falling, with most cases still mild and no signs of the virus changing.

Sir Liam did explain however that local school closures could be ordered on an as and when basis.

In the 1950s a flu pandemic was made worse by schoolchildren starting their autumn term, but in the 1960s it was not exacerbated until Christmas.

It was also revealed today that 54 people have died from swine flu since its outbreak, although most had severe underlying medical problems.

Jubilant A-level students 'told to leave country'

The A-level pass rate has hit a record high for another year, but ministers are encouraging young people to volunteer abroad amid dire higher education and job prospects.

Students around the country received their results this morning, with official figures showing the pass rate - grade A to E - has risen from 97.2 per cent to 97.5.

Those attaining an A grade also went up by 0.8 per cent, from 25.9 per cent to 26.7 per cent.

Despite the improved results though many analysts warn those finishing school this summer face a tough time in gaining entrance into the university of their choice or finding employment in the midst of the worst recession since the second world war.

Liberal Democrat shadow universities spokesman, Stephen Williams warned those who just miss out on their needed grades face a particularly tough clearing process.

'This will be the toughest year ever for places and it looks like huge numbers of very able young people will be joining the record numbers already unemployed,' he said.

'The irony is that while a record number of students are likely to get the top grades, more young people than ever are going to be disappointed as they fail to get a place at university.

'Ministers have made this situation far worse by failing to fund the number of extra places they originally promised.

'This will also make a mockery of the government's plan for 'trading up', as students who do better than expected find there are no places for them at better universities.'

Those not planning on attending university this September also face a daunting prospect in trying to find a job in the current employment climate.

Unemployment in the UK currently stands at 2.44 million, with many analysts expecting it to pass three million by next year.

And those students struggling for ideas of what to do after school are in fact being encouraged by the government to consider volunteering abroad.

A government-funded scheme is encouraging students to apply for the Platform2 experience, which involves teenagers being sent to developing countries to work on a range of projects, including building schools and conservation work.

The scheme is funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) and run by Christian Aid and gap year company BUNAC.

The official statistics released today show the popularity of maths surged during the last year, with 12.2 per cent more pupils taking the subject.

Students face '£23,000 debt' upon leaving university

Students could leave university with debts amounting to as much as £23,500, research suggests.

The Push Student Debt Survey of over 2,000 students found most average a £5,000 debt for every year of study, with the figure rising.

Undergraduates coming to the end of their first year of study at present will owe around £21,200 when they graduate, with those starting this year owing at least £2,000 more than that.

Johnny Rich, editor of Push.co.uk, said: 'Finding part-time work has got harder and many students are facing real financial hardship and are worrying about what lies ahead.

'Even so, the advantages of having a degree still vastly outweigh the costs.

'These figures will give next year's review of student funding a real headache.

'They beg the question of whether we've now passed the point where students can be expected to stump up any more towards their education.'

Students in England also owe a lot more than in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, according to the survey, with students owing around £5,271 a year in England, but only £2,194 a year in Scotland. The government has said they will be spending £5bn this year on student support.

A National Union of Students (NUS) report also found some university courses had 'hidden costs', with students of maths and computer science spending the most, on goods such as books and equipment.

NUS president Wes Streeting said: 'There should be better information, advice and guidance about student finance on university websites and in their prospectuses.'

From this autumn, tuition fees will stand at £3,225 per year.

Record numbers of young not in work or school

New figures released by the government today show record numbers of young people are currently out of work or not in school.

According to the Department for Children, Schools and Families, there are now 835,000 18- to 24-year-olds who are 'Neet' – not in education, employment or training.

The figures cover the second quarter of 2009 and represent a rise of over 100,000 compared to the same period last year.

The considerable increase is believed to have been fuelled by the recession and the lack of jobs available for those leaving school and university.

Iain Wright, minister for 14-19 reform, said: 'Reducing the proportion of 18-year-old Neets has proved challenging, and we know that the economic downturn is significantly affecting young people.'

The official figures show that one in six 18-year-olds are now Neet, a rise from 14.2 per cent in 2007 to 16.6 per cent in 2008.