Sofia Pandolfi, Lambeth Socialist Party

Following this year’s A-level results day, hundreds of thousands of students will begin their university studies in September and enter a higher education system that is facing a severe crisis. For many, lack of funding is nothing new, with colleges and sixth forms across the country having also had massive cuts.

Worsening gap

One consequence of this funding crisis is shown by the widening performance gap between ‘independent’ and state schools. This year, over 48% of grades awarded to privately educated pupils were A*s and As, compared to 25% of grades for students in state schools. This disparity is not caused by an intelligence gap but is a product of the government’s lack of investment in high-quality free education. Students are taught in overcrowded classrooms, without access to subject-specialist teaching, creating overwhelming conditions for both students and staff. It is no surprise that independent schools outperform state schools when working-class students do not have anywhere near the same access to educational support and resources.

Once they start university, students experience their courses being scrapped, staff redundancies, and increasing living costs. Once they leave, students face thousands of pounds in debt and uncertainty over guaranteeing graduate jobs.

Higher fees no solution

Meanwhile, university bosses blame the insufficient income on the decline in international students following the new international student levy, and call for even higher fees instead of calling for a completely different funding model. Despite what the Labour government claims, increasing tuition fees and prioritising profits above all else is no solution to the crisis in higher education. It is this funding crisis that drives universities to seek funding from arms fairs, polluting fossil fuel companies and other damaging capitalist companies.

Students and workers can fight back against cuts and redundancies to build a movement for free fully-funded education at every level. If you’re a student in school, college, or university, join Socialist Students in organising walkouts on the 20 November to fight back against a system that invests in war over our education and futures.