Universities fear imminent student drought

EducationGuardian.co.uk:

The number of school leavers is expected to plummet over the next 10 years, leaving 70,000 university places unfilled - the equivalent of nearly six universities.

Universities will have to compete harder, target more mature students and those from outside the EU to fill seats in lecture halls as a historic dip in the birth rate translates into fewer student numbers, vice-chancellors said.

Or as some would have it: Head, meet sand.