“We have an archaic education system which allows high achievers to do well. It is something I disagree with.”

No comment needed!

Rochester and Strood MP Mark Reckless visited the Mid Kent College campus in Medway yesterday.

Mark was given a guided tour round facilities at the new ?84 million campus by vice principal (curriculum) Margaret Perigo.

The newly built campus off Great Lines in Gillingham replaced the old Horsted and City Way buildings when it opened to students in September 2009.

Mid Kent College, which also has a campus in Maidstone, offers a mixture of part-time and full-time qualifications ranging from foundation Level 1 qualifications, to Level 3 A-Levels and equivalent, to apprenticeship provision. It also trains Royal Engineers in many trade skills as part of a highly successful joint venture.

Amongst the numerous modern facilities at the college are animal handling labs, hair and beauty salons, music production suites and construction workrooms, all purpose-built to suit the needs of students.

Mark was especially pleased to see metalwork students participating in renovating installations from the Medway Queen.

Mark also welcomed the news that Mid Kent College would be limiting fees to the order of ?5,700 for their University of Kent accredited degree-level courses, rather than the ?9,000 which most universities are now set to charge, even though Mark voted against the rise in Parliament.

Mark said?”regeneration goes hand in hand with investment into higher and further education locally, which has long been a cross-party priority in Medway. By investing in our young people locally, we are not only investing in their future prospects but investing in the Medway economy.

“I was very pleased to be invited to view the wonderful facilities at Mid Kent College and was very impressed with the quality of what is on offer there for our young people and the wider community.”

I am, of course, being ironic in using that statement; Scottish university students still get their university paid for by the Scottish government (subsidised, naturally, by the English taxpayer).

It is a gross unfairness that Alex Salmond smugly revels in. He can afford to offer free tuition, free prescriptions and other such vote-winning policies, because he knows that we here in England will continue to pick up the tab.

Jennifer Watts, a local gap year student, agrees. “Since the financial situation is severe enough that English fees have to increase,” she argues, “surely it would be a fairer system if all UK students had to pay, which could result in the increase of tuition fees being far less dramatic.”

Indeed Jennifer was so incensed by this inequality that she has set up a campaign to end this discrimination. And, recently, she was invited to discuss the campaign at Westminster with Rochester and Strood MP Mark Reckless.

At the core of the discussion was the fact that the English taxpayer effectively props up the Scottish Government?s devolved budget, enabling Holyrood to provide Scottish students with free education, whereas English students have to carry debts of tens of thousands of pounds into their working life, according to Mark’s website.

“I agree with the issues Jennifer has raised,” Mark said. “I support the campaign she has started to address the imbalance and to raise people?s awareness in an effort to make the system fairer.”

Well that makes three of us. Give or take a few hundred thousand English students who have had to pay over the years, whilst, all the while, Scottish students get off Scot-free.

Once universities have finished publishing their fees schedule for courses starting in 2012, and students see just how hard they will be hit by the increase, it will be an argument raised once again.

Why should our students have to pay up to ?9,000 for their education, but Scotland’s pay nothing at all?

Medway’s Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services has promised that the Council will continue to support Medway’s 19 Sure Start Children’s Centres.

Councillor Les Wicks, who represents Strood Rural Ward on the Council, reassured residents that the centres were safe following last month’s government announcement that the scheme would be fully funded in the local government settlement.

Sure Start Centres provide invaluable help and support to young families, bringing together a number of support services aimed at children up to the age of four and their families. Medway has 19 centres serving up to 800 children.

Concerns had been raised after the Sure Start funding was moved to a new Early Intervention Grant, but Cllr Wicks confirmed that the ?6.9 million funding for the centres was secured.

Cllr Wicks said that “there have been some false rumours that funding for Sure Start is to be cut [so] I would like to reassure all our residents that this valued service will be retained in Medway.

“Medway?s Sure Start centres play an important role in early intervention and providing a wide range of support services for young children and their families, particularly in more deprived areas.

“The government has confirmed that the funding is secure and we will continue to fully support this vital service.”

More information on Medway’s Sure Start Children’s Centres can be found on Medway Council’s website.

The number of young students from Medway entering into university courses has leapt 65.5% in 11 years, according to information from the Higher Education Statistics Authority.

1,175 Medway residents under the age of 21* entered university in the 2008/2009 academic year, compared to 710 entrants in the 1997/1998 academic year.

Comparing data from the three constituencies within the Medway Council area relevant to the dates in question, Chatham and Aylesford, which also included areas within Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, saw the biggest rise in young entrants of 95.7%, whilst Gillingham saw the smallest rise of 51.6%.

The old Medway constituency saw a rise in entrants of 60%.

In 2008/2009, Chatham and Aylesford saw 460 university entrants, compared to 235 in 1997/1998. Medway saw figures rise to 400 from 250, whilst Gillingham saw 320 entrants increase to 485*.

However, the marked increase in university numbers across the board (with just five English and Welsh constituencies seeing either no rise or a drop in entrants) has been met with concern.

Many of the additional new students are from poorer backgrounds, with east London’s Poplar and Canning Town seeing the greatest increase of 254%, and some commentators believe that the dramatic increase in tuition fees from 2012 will cause a significant drop in university places and applicants.

Fees are set to rise from just over ?3,000 per year to between ?6,000 and (in “exceptional” cases) ?9,000 per year, after a narrow government victory in the House of Commons last month.

* Declaration of interest: the author is one amongst those 1,175 Medway and 485 Gillingham students starting university in the 2008/2009 academic year.

Photograph: Gillingham Building, University of Kent ? Copyright Danny Robinson and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Rochester and Strood MP Mark Reckless has explained his reasons for voting against the government in the controversial tuition fees debate, saying he cannot justify the “suddenness” of the increase.

Before the crucial vote to increase fees from just over ?3,000 per year to ?6,000, and, in some cases, ?9,000, per year, Mr Reckless met students from the University of Kent, and said he “was enormously impressed by the students who put their case to me”.

“They?asked?me why they should?have to?pay so much when Welsh and Scottish and in many cases EU students did not have to pay at all.”

Mr Reckless was explaining to residents and students on his website why he voted against the coalition’s proposals, which were won by 323 votes to 302.

“I found it particularly difficult to justify the suddenness of the move with one student required to pay only around ?3000 but then another student, potentially a sister just one year behind at school, expected to pay two or three times more with very little warning,” Mr Reckless said.

“I also believe that as MPs we should make decisions and whenever possible try and explain those likely decisions before an election, rather than use a report from someone who is not elected, however distinguished, to justify a decision (the Browne Report).”

Drawing comparisons with other aspects of the UK budget, Mr Reckless added “I then?showed David Willetts, the universities minister,?detailed statistics showing that 46% of EU students due to repay a loan from the British taxpayer were in default.

“I have also asked?govenment ministers?how thay can?justify an 80% decrease in grant to universities?in the context?of a 60% increase in?our net?payments to the EU.

“I cannot justify it, and voted accordingly.”

Mr Reckless was one of just six Conservative MPs to vote against the proposals, whilst a further two abstained. On Thursday, Alan W Collins published Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch‘s reasons for abstaining.

Gillingham and Rainham MP Rehman Chishti voted in favour of the proposals, saying during the debate that “One has to consider the overall package rather than single elements for its progressiveness, fairness and justness.

“As well as there being no up-front fees, the increase in the threshold from ?15,000 to ?21,000 has to be a good thing. There will be a cap at ?6,000 and then at ?9,000, linked to exceptional circumstances. Some of the highest-performing universities will have to go out and ensure that students from less privileged backgrounds take part.

“That is absolutely right and fair.”

The Conservative?backbencher, who was first elected in May, said that she was not in principle opposed to tuition fees, but pointed out that, for example, if the number of students at the Universities at Medway rises to 10,000 in 2012 as expected, then that one intake alone could rack up a debt of ?270m, if fees were all ?9,ooo per year, and “a quarter of which will never be paid back and picked up by the taxpayer”.

Miss Crouch said “I have, after much consideration and discussion with Ministers, decided not to vote for the Government?s proposals to treble tuition fees.

“Once upon a time I was opposed to tuition fees but their introduction by the last Labour Government fundamentally altered the way higher education is funded and therefore the debate on whether higher education should be free is over. The debate today is what the fee should be and I personally do not agree with the cap being raised to ?9000, especially as it is a fee that will be inflationary so will continue to rise over time.

“To put this in a local perspective, in 2012, the number of students attending the Universities at Medway is estimated to rise to 10,000; if each student is charged 9K per annum for their course, graduates from Chatham Maritime will owe ?270million worth of tuition fee debt, a quarter of which will never be paid back and picked up by the taxpayer.

“The Government is due to conduct a review of higher education next year which will look at the size of the university sector, alternatives to HE such as further education and vocational education. In my view it would have been better to conduct that review first and decide what the tuition fee structure should be after. In many respects today?s vote is like making the icing for a cake that has not yet been baked.

“Since I don?t disagree with tuition fees, nor do I necessarily agree with increasing fees per se, I have decided to abstain rather than vote against. ”

Carrying the comments on his KentOnline blog, the Kent Meseenger‘s political editor Paul Francis said that “it is refreshing to see one of our newly-elected MPs prepared to stand up for what they believe in, regardless of whether you agree with her case or not.

“She may take some flak from the Whips. She may have irritated ministers. But at least she hasn’t just parroted the party line and as Ann Widdecombe demonstrated, the public rather likes politicians who speak their mind and are prepared to say what they believe.

“Parliament needs more independent voices and fewer political careerists.”

The debate has already begun in the House of Commons today, and Sky News are running rolling coverage of the debate inside the chamber, and the reaction outside the chamber.

It is not presently clear how Medway’s other MPs will vote, although Medway Council last month resolved to write to all three and urge them to vote against the proposals.

Update @ 18:50

According to the Financial Times, Tracey Crouch did indeed abstain and Mark Reckless (Rochester and Strood) voted against the proposals. There were only six Tory rebels and two abstentions, meaning Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham) supported the proposals to raise fees up to a maximum of ?9,000 – a vote that was won by 323 to 302 votes.

Dear Thugs,

I don’t know what Mickey Mouse course you are on that leads you to think that what you did yesterday was anything other than vile, immature and, more than anything, a huge setback in your campaign.

Just for the record, when the NUS decided (stupidly, in hindsight) to call their march “Demolition”, they were being metaphoric. The idea of the protest was to demolish the policy, not the policy-makers’ HQ.

I am loathe to admit it, but yesterday the NUS sent out a powerful message. 50,000 students, people like you and me, marched on London to oppose the fee rises. Two things got in their way:

1. The minor fact that the Education Secretary was abroad; and
2. You, you morons.

You single-handedly lost your cause any public support that it may have been due the second you rounded on a building full of innocent civilians.

I support the rises, yes, and I will campaign for them. But I can understand students’ anger. I cannot understand how any right-minded person could ever think that violence could achieve your aims.

Yesterday’s shameful display demonstrates just one thing: that the state owes you nothing. Nothing, that is, except maybe a few months at Her Majesty’s Pleasure for flirting with anarchy.

Yours in anger,

Alan W Collins

If anyone is reading this who marched peacefully yesterday, please do not think that this is aimed at you. The right to protest peacefully is a distinct democratic right that will always be defended.

However, do not think that these thugs yesterday are your friends. They have caused irreparable damage to your campaign, and it will take more than a few words of distance from NUS officers, and, indeed, other such socialist organisations present, to win back respect and credibility.

I am sorry, but any hope you had of winning your fight went up in flames yesterday, somewhere outside Millbank Tower with a shower of glass.

Yesterday in Parliament, Gillingham & Rainham MP Rehman Chishti received an answer to a written question to the Secretary of State for Education, from Minister of State (Schools) Nick Gibb.

Mr Chishti asked the Secretary of State ‘when he expects Rainham Mark Grammar School to be able to apply for academy status’, an indication that the selective Twydall secondary school may be the latest Medway school to apply for the status.

Alan W Collins reported back in June that four Medway secondary schools had registered their interest to become academies after an invitation by the newly-appointed Secretary of State Michael Gove; Fort Pitt Grammar School, Rochester Grammar School, Sir Joseph Williamson?s Mathematical School and The Thomas Aveling School.

Mr Gibb responded to Mr Chishti?s question by stating that ‘We want the benefits which academy status brings to be available to many more schools. Currently only those schools judged as outstanding by Ofsted can apply to convert to become academies, and fifty-seven schools have opened as academies via this route since 1 September 2010. Other schools can register an interest and I would encourage Rainham Mark Grammar School to register its interest, if it has not already done so.’

So far, Rainham Mark has not made any firm public indication that it intends to pursue this route.

The Secretary of State for Education, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, was the guest speaker at Chatham and Aylesford Conservatives’ Annual Dinner last night – an event which I was?privileged?to attend.

And, after assurances from Mr Gove that he would read my blog today, I will attempt to ensure that this article is?grammatically-correct and free from spelling errors (though I make no promises!).

Party fund raisers are always a pleasure to attend, although I do so with some trepidation. I am not ashamed to admit that I am a fussy eater, and in instances such as last night where the menu is set, I always make sure that I have some small change left over for a pasty on my way home, just in case.

I have to say, though, that not only where the staff at the “Larkfield Priory Hotel” (sorry, Hamlets Hotel & Restaurant) fantastic, but so too were the carrot & coriander soup and chicken in red wine sauce (although, I must admit I passed on the cauliflower and runner beans. Oh, and the lemon tart).

But you’re not interested in the food, are you?

Michael Gove, it would appear, is a very personable politician. Now, that might sound like a necessity for anyone seeking elected office, but, believe me, I’ve met some politicians (at various levels) who look (and sound) as though they’d prefer to be back at home, with the missus and a cup of cocoa, watching EastEnders, than engaging with even the party faithful.

Not Mr Gove. Sadly his wife (the equally-talented leader writer at The Times, Sarah Vine – though not if you took offence at her recent remarks about judges’ workloads (“Court skiving” – ?), which some people did (?), but I digress) was not with him, but that, perhaps, enabled him to spend more time talking to party members (and others – see further down).

When he first arrived, Mr Gove instantly took to talking to those gathered, eagerly awaiting his arrival (with myself being the perpetual nuisance, stalking with my camera). He was so keen to talk to them, and indeed so interested in listening to them (particularly during a discussion with his Medway Council counterpart, Cllr Les Wicks), that he ran out of time before he had spoke to even half the assembled guests.

That did not deter Mr Gove, though, and, after the first course, he proceeded to wander around the tables and ensure that he had spoken to everyone (though, as I thought it would be rather rude to take photographs of people eating, I held back).

After the dinner (well, after the second course, as he did need to get back to London and it was already quite late), Mr Gove gave a thoroughly?entertaining and hugely informative?speech to the party members.

He started with a couple of jokes – one old favourite; another which many hadn’t heard before, but that I had received via email last year (and thought that I had published here, but it appears not); and another that I doubt any of us had heard before. Evidently, not only is Mr Gove a good orator, but he also knows how to tell a good joke!

Then came the serious matter of the mess the Labour Party had made of our education system – how we had slid down international league tables in so many subjects and, after taking questions from party members, how children are being taught selective British history, but not leaving school with a true sense of our ancestry, and how male teachers are a rarity because of the automatic suspicion that is unwarranted probably 80-90% of the time.

After lashing heaps of (deserved) praise on Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch, it was time for Tracey to give the vote of thanks to Michael and everyone who helped out before and during the night. Tracey, bless her, was suffering as her voice was going, and valiantly struggled through as she recounted various personal and third-party anecdotes about Mr Gove, many of which were (to say the least) surprising.

Mr Gove couldn’t leave, however, without proving further that he was the ever-personable, down-to-earth politician. Listening in the doorway of the restaurant were two gentlemen who regularly go to the Hamlets Hotel. They asked him (and Tracey) for autographs before requesting a photograph, offering kind words for him and Tracey.

They were not the first non-members to receive an audience with Michael Gove. Shortly after he arrived, a particularly shy young lad came up to Tracey and introduced himself as a constituent, and a supporter. After a short conversation, it transpired that he was a student, and he was introduced to Mr Gove for a slightly longer conversation, though, I understand, timidity got the better of him at first.

All in all, I have to say that I was very impressed by Michael Gove, an intelligent and talented member of the Cabinet. He is personable (there’s that word again!), down-to-earth and makes it quite clear that he understands the needs and concerns of students. He accepts that tough decisions have to be made, but he also knows that they are the right decisions, and will no doubt work hard to ensure that, rather than be a potential problem for his department, efficiency will be a rather positive order of the day.

After meeting Mr Gove and hearing his discussions with party members, I have full confidence that he will bring about great – and much-needed – ?improvements to our education system.

More photographs from the night can be found on my Picasa album, or by scrolling through the slideshow below.