Commenting on the Government’s plans to give more grants to encourage more young people to go to university Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said:

“We support the Government’s plans to provide more grants to help young people go into higher education.  But we remain concerned about the Government’s potential plans to raise tuition fees, as this would make it tougher for students to go to university.”

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For further information please contact the ATL press office on 0207 782 1589.

Note to editors:
1. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) is an independent, registered trade union and professional association, representing approximately 160,000 teachers, headteachers, lecturers and support staff in maintained and independent nurseries, schools, sixth form, tertiary and further education colleges in the United Kingdom.

2. ATL exists to help members, as their careers develop, through first rate research, advice, information and legal advice.  

3. ATL is affiliated to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) and Education International (EI).  The union is a member of the Social Partnership – working with the UK Government, employers and other unions on education issues.   ATL is not affiliated to any political party and seeks to work constructively with all the main political parties.