Student loans are in crisis, suggests a report by the department of Business, Innovation and Skills.

In the report, published last Tuesday, MPs said half of all student loans would never be paid back.

Executive director of the Association of Secondary Heads in Essex, Richard Thomas, said he thought there was a growing trend towards apprenticeships.

He said: “High level apprenticeships need to be made more accessible to students.

“There is growth in the numbers choosing to earn while learning, with a job at the end.

“If I was a young person now, I would be worried about university."

Full Spotlight in this week's Maldon and Burnham Standard.