This week Vince Cable has announced the results of the Government’s review on financing for higher education. This has recommended that Universities should have the freedom to charge students more, but in return provide more information to justify the extra fees and set out the likely job prospects of their graduates. The review also increases from £15,000 to £21,000 the amount someone needs to be earning each year before they are asked to start repaying their loans; meaning that people earning below the national average won't start making payments.
Overall, university graduates earn more than people who don’t go into higher education, so we have to consider whether their tuition should be paid entirely from the taxes of everyone, rich and poor, or whether they should make a contribution. The measures proposed in the report could save about £2billion in public spending, a significant amount in these difficult times. It remains the case that it is strongly in the interests of students to get the qualifications they need to get to University and that they will have better prospects than if they did not go; which is why increasing numbers do this. We also need to ensure that our Universities have the funding they need to remain competitive with the best in the world.
Last week I was witness to love, betrayal, misunderstanding and murder. Thankfully this was not at a stormy meeting of the House of Commons or on the fringe of the Conservative Party conference, but rather at the excellent Shakespeare Schools Festival at The Quarterhouse in Folkestone. On Thursday night four Kent schools, including Brockhill Park and The Harvey Grammar put on one of Shakespeare’s famous plays. Brockhill performed a highly creative and contempory version of Romeo and Juliet. The boys from the Harvey Grammar brought to life all of the deep emotions and political skulduggery of Julius Caesar. The Festival is partnered with the National Theatre and its Patrons include Kevin Spacey and David Putnam. It has been running for ten years and in that time has given children from thousands of schools the opportunity to perform on a professional stage and deepen their understanding Shakespeare’s plays. I would like to send my congratulations to everyone involved, and particularly our local teachers and students.
On Friday morning I joined Head teacher Ann Blunt and the staff and pupils of St Peter’s Primary School in Folkestone, for their assembly. After taking some questions from the children I later saw them working in their classrooms, including a very enthusiastic clarinet lesson.
On Sunday, I watched the annual ‘Conker Bash’ on the village triangle in Elham. There was a good deal of serious competitors of all ages, who were not going to be distracted by the glorious weather. However, the main sporting achievement of the weekend has to go to Hythe Town Football Club who have progressed to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup for only the second time in their history. A Captain’s goal from Dave Cook saw them defeat higher league opposition away from home, and they are now just one match away from the main first round draw; a really fantastic achievement for everyone involved with the club.