"18 year-olds from disadvantaged areas reached their highest ever application rate at the end of the UCAS admissions cycle in 2014, and these gains have continued into the 2015 cycle—the January deadline application rate for this group was also at a record high."
It's confusing, but it is happening.
"18 year-olds from disadvantaged areas reached their highest ever application rate at the end of the UCAS admissions cycle in 2014, and these gains have continued into the 2015 cycle—the January deadline application rate for this group was also at a record high."
https://fullfact.org/education/have-governments-tuition-fee-reforms-worked/
Like I said, I'm not comfortable with the debt culture either, but I dont think the fees question is black and white.