Easing the way

‘It is now estimated that 5 per cent of students have psychological disorders which cause serious distress and prolonged handicap. A further 10 per cent to 20 per cent have seemingly minor, but in practice, important disorders that are often transient, but which may need skilled help if interference with effective study is to be lessened’ (NUS 1967). ‘On an average 13 per cent of university students fail to complete their courses’ (Problems of Modern Undergraduates BMJ December 1969). ‘Percentagewise the number of drop‐outs in polytechnics for non‐academic reasons is over three and a half times greater than in universities’ (The Place of the New Polytechnics in Education BBC March 1971).