Do students get value for money?

Labour peer Andrew Adonis says universities receive twice as much funding per student as each secondary school in England.

Figures show government spending on early years education in 2015-16 was around £1,700 per child, while local authorities in England spend £4,550.54 per pupil in secondary education.

Lord Adonis says universities are a “cartel” that have put up fees and rewarded some vice chancellors with salaries of more than £400,000. A survey by the Higher Education Policy Institute found that last year only 35% of students thought university was “good” or “very good” value for money, down from 53% in 2012.

The sector’s umbrella body Universities UK says it is wrong to consider fees as just about teaching hours as universities also provide accommodation, libraries, student unions, sports facilities, counselling and health services.

“They also pay for student support services, careers advice and university facilities that all students expect. They pay for the wider university experience,” a spokeswoman said.