End to cap on university student numbers clears path for private equity

By Peter Scott. Step 1 of the government's plan was George Osborne removing the cap on student numbers. Step 2 will remove 'red tape'. And step 3? An end to the £9,000 cap on fees, says Peter Scott. There has been a lot of hype, and sheer nonsense, written about George Osborne's sudden and unexpected announcement in his autumn statement that the overall cap on student numbers will be scrapped from next year. Some see it as a prelude to lifting the other, more important, cap: the one on the maximum fee that universities are allowed to charge – currently £9,000. More...