It’s been difficult being a determined blogger this last month or so.  Every time inspiration strikes, yet another government announcement, or news of an impending cut, or some further reorganisation sends me back to the drawing board.  Despairing of being able to coherently address some of these issues, at least until the politicians have departed for their bread and water style holiday at a rainy English resort, I’m therefore forced to fall back on basic principles.

Now, I will be the first to acknowledge that my views were formed in those far off days when my alma mater, the London School of Economics, was regarded as a radical establishment.  However, I’m not sure that they really are that controversial.

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Well, I guess the electoral excitement is now over, and reality will have to take over.  Personally, I welcome in principle the notion of parties working together (it has produced, in Germany, one of the world’s most successful countries, after all), and if it leads to politicians insulting each other rather less (in case they need a coalition after some future election) and concentrating on policies rather more, well I don’t know too many people who will regret that!

As far as Education goes, I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen of both Michael Gove and David Willetts when I’ve seen them in relatively intimate surroundings – I’m not convinced that television is a great friend to either.  Policy is another matter of course, and it’s pretty clear that, whilst there are interesting proposals for increased funding in certain areas, education as a whole, and especially tertiary education, will not escape the inevitable cuts in public funding which lie ahead.

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Well, it’s a dirty job, but someone had to do it – I’ve been reading the manifestos of the three national parties in order to see what they have to say about Education, especially FE and HE.When you strip out the bile and hyperbole, the answer was rather less than I expected.

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Wonderful to hear Steve Smith on the radio yesterday morning making absolutely clear (“The evidence shows however that whatever university you go to - your life chances will significantly improve.  One of the great vehicles for social mobility in the UK is going to university.") that universities confer on their students benefits well beyond vocational training and really can and do transform lives.

The reason for the interview on Radio 4 was the publication of the HEFCE report on trends in university participation in 18 and 19 year olds over the past decade and a half.  Perhaps counter intuitively, given the introduction in tuition fees in the last few years, the report found that youngsters in the poorest areas are 30% more likely to go to university than 5 years ago – and whilst it is certainly true that a much higher proportion of the wealthier enjoy a tertiary education, there is at last some real movement in… widening participation.

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Well, there I was, wearing a silly hat, devoid of inspiration, and resigned to using the last blog of the year to wish everybody the greetings of the season, when who should ride to the rescue but Peter Mandelson and his letter to HEFCE!

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