§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans the Department has to ensure more young people from low-income families enter university. [66584]
§ Margaret HodgeWe are determined to encourage more young people from lower income backgrounds to enter higher education. Our secondary school reforms will help raise participation and attainment levels so that more young people will be eligible to benefit from HE. We have committed over £190 million over three years to the Excellence Challenge to raise aspirations and attainment of young people in some of the most deprived areas of
54Wthe country. This includes making available 25.000 Opportunity Bursaries to encourage young students from low-income families into higher education. Young people in schools and FE colleges in Excellence Challenge areas will also benefit from the Aimhigher road show, which was launched earlier this year to promote higher education.