Choices, choices, choices

This article can also be found on the Varsity blog.


This week’s CUSU elections allow Access to take the spot-light within Cambridge and one of the issues to emerge is advice on subject choices, particularly at the stage of A Levels. It is assumed by many (students and teachers alike) that all students are given adequate career advice to allow them to consider their options and decide their future paths. Believe me, I wish that was the case; an education system in which every student gets individualised advice, based on their own circumstances and needs, is an education system to strive for. But as with most things, just like I’m not a millionaire, the reality doesn’t match the ideal.

When I was in Year 11, I remember being told by my tutor in those hour-long PSHE lessons where no-one in the room (including the teacher) really wanted to be there that when it comes to picking what to do at college you should ‘do something that you enjoy and something that you’re good at.’ Whilst I agree that the above is very sensible advice in general (I would be slightly worried if teachers were saying ‘do the subject you’re worst at’ or one that you hate) there was no mention about the possible effects of my decision. The word ‘university’ never came up. And this is where the problem lies: a significant number of students choose their AS Levels without realising the ways in which they may be limiting their options.

Much is made of the private vs. state divide, as if there is a huge wall between the two. Personally I think that focusing solely on the type of school simplifies and doesn’t solve the problem. There are some brilliant state schools with excellent careers guidance for their students. I think that the reason why this problem seems to be less visible in the private sector is that there are more resources to feed into the careers advice and a different ethos. Many of the best schools (whether private or state) direct students’ thinking towards University from the age of 11, so that it seems like the normal thing to do. And on a practical note, a large number of the private schools do not offer A level choices in subjects which universities deem to be ‘soft’, ‘easier’ or ‘less suitable preparation for one of our courses.’

This poses another related question: should we have an infamous ‘black-list’ of subjects? Whilst I fully respect and encourage transparency in the admissions process (something that Cambridge is getting better at – from feedback to schools on applicants’ performance to more direct and accessible information about the process), I must admit to a slight apprehension. When I finally decided to give applying to Cambridge a go, I remember thinking that I had to justify why I took performance studies, simply because it was on ‘the list’- I didn’t think that ‘because I enjoy drama’ would cut the ice with Cambridge – but why shouldn’t it?


OK, so I’ve highlighted some of the problems, but how do we begin to fix it? Whilst I’m not proclaiming to be a careers guru, I can give my opinion based on my experiences.

Firstly, the most important target are teachers: as Government adverts for teaching highlight, a teacher can have a huge impact on a student’s life. If one teacher gives poor advice to their students, imagine how many students lose out as a result over two, three, four years. Many don’t realise just how influential they are, forgetting that they can be the key to enabling a student to achieve their potential. Others just don’t think and give the generic ‘look at the UCAS website’ answer. But for someone who wants to be a journalist, this can be misleading; they could decide to do an English degree, and get involved in student newspapers at university, but so many automatically assume that a journalism degree is the only means to an end available. The same goes for lawyers, the aspiring businessman or next *insert name of your favourite politician here*.

Secondly, the information from the University should be framed in a much more positive light. Rather than listing the subjects which the University isn’t so keen on, the focus should be on the subjects that universities feel best prepare you for particular courses.

Thirdly, the access programmes need to extend their reach to those in Year 10 and 11. Whilst they aren’t at a stage where they need the ins and outs of the admissions process for Cambridge, or need information on the UCAS system, it is important that they are receiving honest advice on the effects of their choices, so that they when they make a decision, it is an informed one. This is a very different kettle of fish to forcing a student to do certain subjects; no teacher has the right to force a student into taking Further Education options which they don’t want to do, but they can provide the information and guidance to allow them to make the choice.

The burden should not rest squarely on the shoulders of the Widening Participation Teams of one University, or even universities in general. Universities should provide the information related to their courses, but it is up to the Government to improve the careers advice available to students across the board. They need to wake up and get serious – it’s time to level the playing field.

Saturday 28th Feb - The 'day off'!

Today was billed as a 'day off' for the candidates - but clearly it was far from that - could possibly even go as far to say it has been the busiest day of campaigning!

There may have been a break from hustings but flyering and postering was the name of the game today! Supposedly supervision work was also going to be happening today but at the time of writing (21:10), I have currently read 3 pages - oops!

Following last night's hustings, the press released their next round of views on the St John's and Kings hustings. Bearing in mind I totally lost my trail of thought in the final 15 seconds of my speech, I was happy with the coverage in TCS, I could think of worse terms than 'genuine and endearing'!

I also agree with Varsity's analysis - they're right - I'm not a polished public speaker, I don't have the charismatic approach - there would be no point me pretending to - my comfort zone is not in the Union, or at hustings being 'grilled' - I will never be a loud voice in CUSU Council, but instead, what I have in abudance is the passion and background backed up by experience and continuing commitment to Access which would make me ideal for the job. In my opinion, when you visit a school - if the students can see you're slightly nervous, it makes you seem more human and shows to them that not every Cambridge student has the public speaking ability to be a leading politician!

Anyways - suppose I'd better do some law (for a change!) - tomorrow sees 5 hustings, including a live one on CUR 1350 in the afternoon - also have to fit in a Target Schools Committee somehow tomorrow - anyone got a way of stopping time? If so let me know asap!

Friday 27th Feb - Varsity, Flyering and Hustings.. oh and a dragon in a gown!

Well as I said yesterday - Access was appearing on the front page of one of the papers, and it did - nice and big on the front cover of Varsity.

Today was probably the busiest day for campaigning so far - started nice & early with postering/flyering - I had such high hopes when I left my room this morning - blue sky, sun is shining - and then as luck would have it - as soon as I get ready to flyer - in goes the sun and out comes the clouds - typical!
I then thought it might be nice to actually make it to a lecture (2 this week so far!) - I'm sure I've forgotten how it feels to be studying law!

We had the most hustings in one night so far tonight - Magdalene, followed by St John's and then finished off in Kings Bar.
Not many questions emerged at the first hustings, but those that were asked included whether we would ignore private schools in the target talks campaign (which in case you were wondering, my view is that the focus has to be on state schools because of the general difference in terms of resources and careers advice but that private school students can play just as much of a role as those from state schools - to show that there isn't really any difference!)

Up next - St John's - it was a nice, cosy little atmosphere - so much that when I totally forgot what I was going to end on, I didn't actually feel as much of a fool as I thought I would! I think I'm beginning to realise that each hustings is going to be different and some are going to involve slip-ups. One question asked what aspect of the media we would target, and how we plan to improve links with teachers.

The final stop was Kings - with by far the biggest turn-out (maybe bar CUSU council) so far - the atmosphere was really good, and the venue actually worked well (even if I did have to use a microphone!)
Issues in questioning focussed on the Cambridge Ambassador's Programme, our views on fees, and even if there was any policy which we would like to bring to CUSU Council to do with Access.

And for those of you who were wondering - yes, there was a guy dressed up as a dragon, with a gown on, and no, I still have no idea why he was there!

Tomorrow is supposedly our day off - for me that translates to - catching up on sleep and actually doing some law work, whilst of course still keeping the campaign going!

Hustings resume at 12:30 at Jesus College on Sunday - hope to see you there!

Thursday 26th Feb - Mock-up fights, race starts and of course - hustings!

I think today was one of those days where I wasn't sure what to think - getting my head around the fact that my performance was being reviewed by one newspaper, and another was trying to check out my facebook (I thought it was just law firms that did that!) - that was one thing. Then the phonecall came from the editor of one of the newspapers - 'We'd like to do a photo of the Access candidates for the front page.' - Well that's not something you hear every day! I think that whomever wins this tightly contested election next Wednesday, there is actually one true winner, and that is Access itself - the fact that this election is one of the most heavily contested positions again this year shows that Access does matter and that there are lots of people within the University, who are doing some amazing work in Access and that the fact that Access is making the front page of newspapers is amazing because it is raising the profile of some of the key issues that every candidate is referring to - the effect of low aspirations, the role teachers play, the issue of positive discrimination - all important issues that need to be discussed.

So, off to the photoshoot we went - and fair enough, they wanted a different photo to the usual one where everyone stands nicely and smiles individually, but I didn't expect what happened next - standing over another candidate with a stool raised ferociously above my head, whilst he is threatening to knee the other - sounds like something out of some cheap drama, with a bar room brawl!
I'll let you see for yourself what photo they go for in the end by checking the papers in the morning.

Hustings were on my home turf tonight, and bearing in mind we're a small college, we had a decent turn-out. Questions covered areas such as: raising awareness of access issues to increase student involvement, the Cambridge Ambassadors Programme, and even what we would do if something went wrong on a scheme you were responsible for, and it was late at night, and you were tired - nothing too specific then!

Then it was off up the hill to Churchill (well up the back way but that's beside the point!) The venue was on the large side but it was not too bad - questions were posed on the issues of positive discrimination, how to ensure fees are not a psychological barrier to access and even how much we see Access as a political role - that's another great thing about this campaign - really gives the chance to consider issues relating to Access in a way that we may never have thought about before.

For those of you who are interested - I have a blog up on the varsity website if you fancy a look? http://blog.varsity.co.uk/2009/02/26/choices-choices-choices/#more-35

Anyways - am off to bed - maybe one day during this campaign I may actually get to bed before 2am! One can only hope!
Until tomorrow...

Wednesday 25th February

Well today was a day of firsts - the first round of hustings and my first ever demonstration.
I know which one I found less intimidating (and in case you were wondering - it was the demo!)

I thought I'd go along to the demo bearing in mind I helped organise the HE Funding debate we had last term and also that the Access and Funding Team were organisng it, and I'll be honest, the last thing I want to see happen is to see the infamous cap being lifted! And I enjoyed it (admittedly, when everyone sat down in the road, I wasn't really sure what I was supposed to do then! Fortunately I had some more experienced people to keep me under their wing!)

Arriving back earlier than expected is always a bonus... unless you are already worrying about the first round of hustings for a CUSU election - not even the good ol' Trinity Hall food could tempt me this evening!

By the way - if anyone knows of a remedy for nerves (non-alcoholic!) then do let me know - I'm really keen to know!
I suppose the first round of hustings wasn't as bad as I thought it would be - I'm never going to be a public speaker, but hopefully my passion comes through every time - Do I think the Access Officer needs to be a brilliant public speaker? Feel free to disagree with me but I don't - I have found that students tend to relate to me, a lot of the time for the simple reason that they can relate to me - I know what it's like to think that university 'isn't for people like me' or 'I don't want to move away'.
Questions covered issues ranging from the cost of studying in Cambridge, to how we can better inform teachers, to the relative budgets of Access and Education - plenty to keep any candidate on their guard!

What I have quickly discovered is that the winner from this campaign has got to be Access as a whole- Varsity has it down as the 'really exciting' race (I now know how odd it feels seeing your performance being reviewed - as if I wasn't nervous enough!)- and surely, the main thing to come out of this week will be a much higher profile for the issues that Access exists to deal with, and no matter who wins in 7 days time, that is huge positive that every candidate can take out of this process.

Anyway - suppose I'd better get to bed at some point! Home turf tomorrow followed by Churchill (apparantly Sidney still has the norovirus within its walls!) - Night :o)

Why am I standing?

This was a question that I had to ask myself long and hard before taking the plunge and submitting my nomination...
Was it because I fancy a year out? No. Was it because I like the idea of 16 hustings? Well seeing as I'm not the best public speaker in the world - I guess the answer would have to be no.
I think the main reason that I came up with was that thinking about it - Access is what I love doing, and is what I feel passionate about.

I'll be honest, there is something that I spend more time doing than access work, but there's not a huge amount of difference in it, it's a slight distraction called a law degree. But that aside, access projects are what I love doing! Whether it's visiting 20 schools on my own to give talks over the summer, or hosting a group of Year 10 students for their first visit to Cambridge - there's just that feeling I guess about knowing that you are really making a difference. I'd probably say I'm a bit of an access addict (if there is such thing!) - whether it's creating new college access projects, applying to be a Cambridge Ambassador, doing access work for CUSU or even for the Law Faculty of Archaeology Dept, I just love being involved.

I guess a lot of it has to do with the fact that I know how beneficial these access programmes are. I remember my senior tutor mentioning the idea of Oxbridge to me about when I was nearing the end of Year 12, and I could have fallen off my chair (it took them long enough to make me think about University!) - My parents never went to uni, neither did my friends, or anyone in that street for that matter - so surely that wasn't the kind of thing that people like me did was it? Funny how things turn out - 3 years later and I'm standing for CUSU Access Officer as I approach the end of my 2nd year in law. Didn't see that one coming!

So... how am I feeling now? Nervous? No. Slightly terrified? That's probably more like it.
Oh well, I guess that's part and parcel of the game (and nothing can be more scary than the video hustings right?) - Guess I'll have to wait and see!