Last week was the FE ‘Loud and Clear’ Lobby of Parliament. The idea of the lobby was to help NUS proactively push for policy changes which would allow FE students to have a real ownership over their education and the right to adequately funded and supported methods of representation, it was also aimed to give students a chance to come and lobby their MP’s and question key decision makers in the sector about issues that are important to them such as student and college funding through to college security and equality and diversity on campus.

Now is a really important and exciting time for FE students- things like the Foster Review of Further Education have set a political climate and real opportunity for change in the sector and the NUS FE campaign has been working hard to make sure that a priority for change is the way that colleges and the learning and skills council seek feedback from students and allow them to have real representation. Foster called the FE sector “the neglected middle child” which is no surprise when you look at the provision in schools and HE, which is why its so vital that we use every opportunity to lobby and push for change.

But its not enough for me, or some of the NEC to go round telling people this, it needs students on the ground, the people living with what the government and colleges decide day in and day out to have their voices heard. Which was why I was so pleased when so many of you turned up to the lobby in the House of Commons and the pre-meeting at Westminster Kingsway. The questions and comments you made to the panel- Bill Rammell (Minister for Higher Education and Life Long Learning), Barry Sheerman (Chair of the Education Select Committee), Barry Lovejoy (Head of Colleges at NATFHE), John Brennan (CEO of the Association of Colleges), Danny Douglas (President of City College Norwich) and myself- were challenging and brilliant and proves that FE students absolutely have something to say and that the sector clearly has a big challenge to make sure every student has the opportunity to make their voices heard.

Now is the time to keep raising your voices loud and clear- write to your e-mail and ask them to sign EDM 1484 on learner voice (you can find out who your MP is and e-mail them by going to www.writetothem.com ) and keep checking www.officeronline.co.uk/fe for more ways to get involved.

These are just some of the things that NUS is calling for:

• Funding for the training and support for the development of course representatives
• The minimum number of student governors to be raised from one to two
• A change to the EMA system so that students don’t risk losing out fro participating in student activities
• It to be written into legislation that colleges have to consult with learners that every college corporation was required to have a student affairs sub committee that would deal specifically with student issues and run out Fosters recommendations on students surveys
• That colleges are required to required to approve a learner voice that had to meet standards agreed by students
• Staff support for student representation needs to be funded, supported and developed
• A change to the complaints procedure so that student complaints don’t end up with the body that funds colleges but with an independent body, so students feel confident to complain

If you want to discuss any of these ideas or want some advise about talking to your MP drop me an e-mail on ellie.russell@nus.org.uk or call me on 07725124411

In his review Foster called FE “the neglected middle child”. Well the clear message that came out of last weeks lobby was: Its time the “neglected middle child” grew up!

Have a good week
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