I'm relatively convinced that tuition fees don't promote inequality, based on stats I've seen over the last 10 years or so. Also, as a student, some of the richest people I knew didn't pay tuition fees due to creative accounting of their parents' personal finances.

That said, £27,000 for a bachelor's degree represents terrible value for money in most cases. The UK's old targets of getting everyone into higher education have had a terribly negative effect on universities; they now chase student numbers and have a 'grow or die' mindset.

The improvement of apprentice systems over the last few years is a step in the right direction, but I fear the damage has been done. Students don't want a challenging experience for £27k, they want the piece of paper they've paid for. For best value for money, I personally would rather take out a student loan without attending an institution and undertake self-guided learning at a slightly later age.