All work and no play?

Some sixth-form pupils are working longer hours than children who were sent down the mines in the 19th century, a leading trade unionist has warned.

In an exclusive interview with ePolitix.com, Gwen Evans, deputy general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, claimed students were being forced into part time employment in order to save for university.

"Some sixth formers today are working hours so long that they are exceeding time that children used to work when they went down the mines in the 1830s," the ATL chief said.

"They don’t want to impose a burden of debt on their parents. As a consequence part time employment is now a major part of students’ lives."

Amid growing fears about student debt levels, Evans said some young people were jeopardising their academic careers in order to make money to survive.

"Those of us who did exams years ago had a much easier life, we weren’t stacking the shelves in the local supermarket with an exam the next day but that is what happens in my London suburb," added Evans.

She also warned that part time employment could harm academic performance.

"Some work has been done that has suggested that students who take on a substantial amount of part time work are actually at risk of dropping a grade at GCSE or A Level and of dropping a degree class at university," she said.