Steve Brine joined Simon Hughes MP, Government Advocate for Access to Higher Education, in visiting Winchester's Peter Symonds College on Friday 4th February.
In his new role Simon is travelling around the country visiting young people, to hear their views and concerns about access to education.
One aim of this outreach programme is to find out how best to explain the new system of student financing, to ensure that they are not deterred from going on to higher education.
A group of ten Peter Symonds students talked with him candidly about their concerns.
“It was a pleasure to be in Winchester at one of the top sixth form colleges in the country in the first week of our tour,” said Simon. “As expected, the Symonds students were very helpful in saying what the government’s policy should be next on Access to Education. We will keep in touch with them via a regular newsletter/or social website where they will also be able to contact the other young people I meet as part of this programme.”
Steve said: “These are really tough times and there are some difficult decisions to say the least for MPs at the moment which we know have a big effect on this generation of young people.
There’s no way of hiding from those tough decisions but I am pleased we are getting out there, facing up to them and working with students to see how Government can minimise their impact. It was great to welcome Simon to Winchester and a really valuable session with the young people, I think we will both came away with some excellent feedback.”
Pictured; Steve and Simon discussed Higher Education policy with Peter Symonds students and Principal Neil Hopkins
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Find out more about one of the country’s top sixth form colleges via www.psc.ac.uk.
