18


Coastal View & Moor News Issue 19


Teesside Young Labour have expressed ‘disappointment’ over the news that, despite Ucas’ claims of a ‘late surge’ in applications, 10.5% fewer people from the North East had applied to university by 19 December 2011 than they had by the same date in 2010.


Fewer university applicants from North East


The North East is one of the regions with the sharpest drops in the number of applications submitted, with 10.5% fewer applications being submitted by 19 December, compared with a 5.3% drop in Yorkshire and Humber, a 5.8% drop in the West Midlands and a 7.4% drop in Greater London. Teesside Young Labour Secretary and local college student Tom Robinson said: “Tripling fees to £9,000 acts as a huge psychological barrier to many people, and Labour have long been warning the Government that such a move would reduce aspiration; this, unfortunately, seems to be the case. “Ucas’ claims of a late surge might be partially true, but it is still completely unacceptable that university applications have fallen by over 10% in this region in the space of a year.


“In addition, the fact that areas like the North East seem to be hit the hardest is also very bad news in the fight to reduce regional disparity and the North-South divide. If we want our region’s economy to move forward, it is vital that we have a well- educated and skilled workforce.” Teesside Young Labour Chair, and Teesside University student, Dan Johnson added: “The Government’s tuition fees policy is undoing much of the good work that the


previous Labour government did to increase the number of people going to university, especially from areas like Teesside. “I would still urge anyone who wants to go to university to do so, but it does appear that these much higher tuition fees are discouraging people from the North East from going to university.” Joe Anderson, Campaigns Officer for Teesside Young Labour and Vice Chair of Redcar and Cleveland Local Government Labour Party, said: “As this fall is so sharp in the North East and is affecting so many young people in Teesside, we intend to ask Teesside Labour MPs to raise this matter in Parliament, and to get data about the number of applications made at a constituency- and Borough-level in Teesside.” There has been evidence of a late surge for university places, according to the Chief Executive of UCAS, Mary Curnock Cook. The deadline for applications is the 15th January, with the final application figures available from the 30th January 2012. It seems a little pre-emptive to suggest that applications will be down on last year until all the data is in, as Decembers figures would suggest, showing that there may well be a ‘late surge’. Redcar MP Ian Swales told Coastal


View: ‘’The fall in university applications was to be expected after the huge rise of 5.1% last year and the massive growths in apprenticeships up 91% since last year in Redcar and Cleveland.’’


capped and that the payback system was progressive with a much higher starting point of 21k for a graduate salary. The previous system saw graduates paying back once they earned £15,000; it has been raised to £21,000. The graduate is £540 per year better off under this system then the old system and, contrary to some commentator’s opinions, tuition fees will not affect anyone’s ability to get a mortgage or loan.


Thinking about literature


A


‘’I did not agree with the Governments policy on Tuition Fees and voted against this policy, however, I am glad that Liberal Democrat pressure ensured that fees were


‘’The Labour Party have a poor record on this issue they introduced fees after promising not to, added top up fees after promising not to, and provided weak, divided opposition for the current policy. In September they announced their new policy, and have no intention of changing the basic system. They would reduce the fee cap to £6,000. Calculations show this would only benefit people going on to earn £35k or more, those earning less would never repay amount over £6,000 anyway. No one should be deterred from going to university as no fees are payable up front, which is also the case for part time study.’’ ‘’However, it is now the role of the Government to ensure that people are getting the right message and not falling for Labour’s scaremongering tactics. We need to explain the policy clearly to people so that they understand how it works. This Government is working very hard to make education a more flexible system for all ages and abilities and I hope that all interested parties will start working together now.’’ Monthly repayments after graduating are now lower than under the previous system, and all graduates now benefit from this.


re you interested in books? Do you enjoy discussing literature with like- minded people?


Since becoming a published author, I’ve wanted to explore my creative writing abilities and link up with like-minded people, so I joined the Thinking about literature group this week which runs for 10 weeks each term. At present, we are discussing Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift, but the group is happy to talk about anything with regards writing and literacy. The first meeting started on 11 January and on runs every Wednesdays from 10.00am to 12.00am at Redcar Central Library. If you’re in receipt of income based Job Seekers Allowance, the cost is only £10, and otherwise it’s £45. If you are interested, contact Redcar Adult Service on 01642 490409.


Do you want to get your selling message across to our 55,000 readers, many of whom could be your potential customers?


Call Lynne now on 01287 669418 or 07910 791 434


Are you a new or expectant mother ?


W


ith the new year just beginning


local photographer Becky Mitchell is first out of the blocks as she begins preparing for a unique series of portraits, which although inspired by the forthcoming Olympics, takes new born babies from Teesside as the focus point.


Becky Said “There are high hopes and lots to look forward to in 2012, it’s important for me to create a body of work that in the Olympic year people will look back on and that is specific to the Teesside area”.


2012 Blue Prints aims to create 12 large scale prints of babies that have been born


between January and the end of February 2012, with the work being exhibited as part of the Olympic celebrations, whilst Becky is also working with mima to ensure that the work is available for future exhibitions and the town archive.


Becky has already been working closely with some local families and has been pleased with the early responses “It’s great that individuals and families have shown


enthusiasm for the project, it shows a real pride in our area”. Here’s your chance to get involved! Do you know anyone who has had a recent arrival and would like to get involved too? Becky is still looking for new or expectant mothers, so for your chance to get involved in this unique project Contact becky@profilegallery.co.uk or call 07903548435


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