Hereford students raise concerns about effects of 'high stress' academic system

Mock Election candidates from Hereford Sixth Form College, Anna Ricks (Green) and James Mclelland (Communist Party), were joined by campaign managers Lily Andrews (Green) and Henry Jenner (Labour) to talk at the Big Green Conversation, held at De Koffie Pot last week.

The mock election itself took place last month, with Labour's Adam Hill winning.

Some of the main talking points during the discussion were tuition fees, student debt and poverty and a requirement for better-paid jobs in Herefordshire.

However, they also shared concerns that the current 'high-stress' academic system undervalues vocational skills, has implications for mental health, and tends to pit schools against each other when co-operation would be more productive.

Anna Ricks (Green) said: "It seems that things need to get quite bad for people to get involved, so now we are seeing more young people engaged because it suddenly seems really important."

She added: "We really enjoyed the evening. We felt very welcome and it was great to see older and younger people discussing important issues together and understanding each other.”

To engage more young people in politics, the students suggested lowering the voting age to 16, a Green Party policy, and proper political education for all from an early age.

Big Green Conversation organiser Rob Hattersley said: "These students were truly inspiring and a credit to their college and to Herefordshire. They understood the issues and although they had concerns for the future, they also gave us a lot of hope.”

Green Parliamentary candidates Ellie Chowns (North Herefordshire) and Diana Toynbee (South Herefordshire) also congratulated the students on their willingness to engage with politics and for the insights they shared.

Diana said: “The Green Party is the only party standing up for students and putting young people at the heart of its campaign. Education is a right not a commodity to be bought and sold, and we need a level playing field so everyone has the chance to go to university or college.

“Students are being ignored in the Brexit negotiations, despite having the most to lose. Funding for our universities is under unprecedented threat. The Green Party will not let young people miss out on opportunities to study, travel and work across Europe because of a decision that they so emphatically voted against.”

Organised by Hereford Green Party but open to all, Big Green Conversations cover a wide range of political and ethical topics and take place every fourth Wednesday at De Koffie Pot at Hereford's Left Bank.