The Robbins report of October 1963 has been compared in importance to the Beveridge Report (1942). Its recommendations for a big expansion of higher education were immediately accepted by the Conservative Government and the Labour Opposition.
In a new HEPI Policy Note, The Robbins report at 60: Essential facts for policymakers today, Nick Hillman (HEPI’s Director) shows that, although the number of students did grow, policymakers veered off in different directions to those foreseen by the Robbins Committee.
- The Robbins principle that higher education courses ‘should be available for all those who are qualified by ability and attainment to pursue them’ was initially accepted but was often under threat afterwards
- The Robbins Report followed, not led, on future student numbers
- The Robbins Report did not sort out student finance
- The binary divide of universities and polytechnics was contrary to the Robbins recommendations
- The Robbins Report did not lead to a wave of new universities as had been proposed
- Robbins’s ideas on student accommodation were not followed
- The Robbins proposals on Whitehall arrangements were ignored
