Universities fail to attract poorer teens

The number of teenagers from poorer homes going to university has barely increased under Labour despite a government investment of almost £400 million, MPs said today.

The proportion went up by two per cent, to 29 per cent, between 2001 and 2007.

Overall, the number of deprived teenagers going to university each year increased from 67,823 to 73,094, the Commons Public Accounts Committee said.

The small increase comes despite £392million being given to universities since 2001 to attract more working-class students.