I’ve spent most of the last couple of weeks on summer training and in the office writing the FE campaigns pack on course cut ready for freshers.

14th- 16th- Active Political Leadership, Herts. I love this course! Despite having a cold I really enjoyed sitting in on the sessions (apologies if I was sitting in the corner sniffling during yours!) I learnt loads and it was great to meet all the new delegates. If you were there I hope you found the course useful and empowering and are looking forward to the year ahead- it’s going to be a busy one!

Thursday 17th- I left the course a day early for A-level results day. CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who got their results, and again there has been a rise in the number of students achieving high grades. There were a few bits of the typical “A-levels are getting easier” rubbish but this year the focus in the press those students going to University are going to face, the first to face top-up fees and those students facing the prospect of going through the clearing process after getting their results. Going through clearing is stressful enough, but now the disappointment of not getting the grades you needed and having to chose another University and course that is right for you is coupled with the stress that you may be having to chose another University based on the fact that you will be likely to pay over £33,000 for your University experience (which is the average amount that students can expect to spend according to a recent Natwest survey). Students going through clearing also have to face the prospect of re-applying for bursaries, which could potentially mean the money takes longer to arrive in their accounts. Not good!

I did an interview on BBC News 24 about the A-level results and the first thing I was asked was ‘Is University really worth it?’. Of course I said yes, it’s an incredible experience that can change your life and can set you off on a bright future. But to be honest I found it a bit hard to answer for two reasons. Firstly I haven’t actually been yet. Secondly I’m getting ready to apply to University knowing that I’ll be paying top up fees. I’d applied and got in to University before I decided to run for the NEC, so when I got elected I deferred my place for a year, meaning that I would still miss out on paying top-up fees. But when it came to decide about running for another year, I knew that if I got re-elected I’d lose my deferred place and would have to re-apply to University and pay the new fees. It wasn’t an easy choice- I’m going to be funding myself through University and the thought of leaving University at 23 or 24 in thousands and thousands of pounds of debt, which as a woman will likely take me longer to pay off when I go into employment because of the gender pay gap, certainly made me think twice and it still is. I don’t regret my choice, but I do resent the Governments choice. That’s the decision that hundreds of thousands of students have and will continue to face, and thousands have already chosen not to go- which is why its absolutely vital that we get as many people of the National Demo on 29th October as possible to show the fight isn’t over. I’ll be out marching for my education and an end to my fees, and for every other student in my position.

Friday 18th- I went to Chester to do the closing speech at the Action Through Advocacy training course.

I spent the weekend moving to London.

21st and 22nd- I had a meeting on Monday with Kat Stark, Ruqayyah and Vikki Forrest the FE rep on Women’s committee to discuss how to roll out the liberation campaigns to more FE unions this year. I spent the rest of the time finishing off the first FE campaign pack of the year- fighting course cuts on your campuses. I’ll do a more detailed blog about this part of the campaign soon.

23rd-24th- I was at the Active Political Leadership course in Chester role-playing a UCU rep, a smarmy corporate suit, a fluffy student services manager and an evil Vice Chancellor (and laughing at Wes’ accents!) Damola from Leeds University delivered a brilliant final speech, and it was a really positive and encouraging note to finish summer training 06 on.

Friday 25th- I’ve got a meeting with the Centre for Excellence in Leadership.

Hope you have a great bank holiday weekend

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