Christian group calls for free tuition as Theresa May says fees are most expensive in the world

Mrs May admitted there serious concerns about a system that leaves the poorest students in England with the highest debt.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the current system of university tuition fees of up to £9,250 a year had not resulted in the “competitive” market that had been expected and instead “we now have one of the most expensive systems” in the world.

In a speech she said the goal of making university accessible to teenagers from all backgrounds “is not made easier by a funding system which leaves students from the lowest-income households bearing the highest levels of debt, with many graduates left questioning the return they get for their investment”.

Adam Spears from SCM told Premier’s News Hour he hopes the review leads to free higher education, not just reduced interest or lowering the tuition fee cap. There’s currently 6.1 per cent interest on student loans.

“They should be taking into consideration the preferential option for the poor,” Spears said. “Over £9,000 a year is not good for poor and working class people.”

“It [student debt] looms over you. You’re always terrified of what you have and haven’t paid what you should or should not be paying. It’s such a huge number.

“Some people just give up on it. They just bury their heads in the sand because it’s so huge they just don’t want to think about it.”

Spears advised treating post-18 education…