#SupportUs Taking our student support campaign forward

Background

Where have we come from? 2011 election campaign led to big increases in student support (among other things!) Saw the introduction of the ‘minimum income guarantee’ – originally £4,500 for every HE student, now £4,750 Poorest students saw a big increase in HE - £7,625 In FE, we got inflationary increases for bursary rates and additional funding over almost £10m over the budget period since the election

Of course, there’s a big but… In HE, these increases came through in loans – while the worst result would have been no increases at it has seen debt continue to grow in Scotland…   2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 England    16,160    17,000    18,630    20,050    21,170   24,640 Northern Ireland    14,920    15,670    16,810    17,340    18,050   19,720 Scotland      5,990      6,470      6,860      7,440      9,410   10,500 Wales    13,070    13,470    14,810    17,220    18,960   16,120

Free education can’t just be about the price tag… Across all household income brackets, 36% of students do not take out any loan. Students studying higher education at college are significantly less likely to take on a loan compared to those studying at university; In both the lowest household income bracket and the second lowest, 20% of students don’t take any loan. Those figures rise to 26% of students who are studying higher education in college; We have a narrative in Scotland of free education, and that is true and an incredibly important part of our higher education system; however, only in one (albeit very important) factor - the price tag attached to it.

…and students need to be supported to access education and stay there While during term time students have the double ‘safety-net’ of student support payments and the ability to access institutional hardship and discretionary funds, during the summer months they lose both of these. 49.63% of student drop out occurs in summer, making this the most vulnerable time – and it’s increasing. So much so that in 2013/14 more students dropped out across summer than the rest of year combined. Students need and deserve to be supported right across the year and at a higher level

And FE support remains a mess… Every year we see a shortfall between the bursary budget available and demand from students Halfway through the year, 67% of colleges had already committed 100% or more of their FE bursary budget – and they make up the difference by raiding teaching budgets, which is a double blow for students The system discriminates against younger students – even when sat in the same class and at the same level as someone over 20. FE students deserve an end to the outdated, discretionary, postcode lottery that currently exists, replaced by a guarantee to (improved!) bursary support

And too often it’s the most in-need students who lose out The lack of a positive interaction between student support and benefits mean that students are forced to choose between one or the other – or stay out od education altogether Mature students – often with caring responsibilities – have really limited access to student support Student parents face a significant shortfall between the childcare and student support funding they receive, and the actual costs of childcare. Carers see no extra support ...and on and on it goes! We need fundamental reform of the support system

Where we are now

It’s a result! Along with every political party in some way endorsing our election manifesto, following our Shaping Scotland’s Future campaign the Scottish Government has committed to a full review of student support. We want to see that be a full review – independently chaired – which has a remit to bring forward short-term recommendations for students here and now, and longer-term, systemic reforms.

The hard work starts here The hard work has only just begun. We now need to hold the Government to its promise – in a year where Scotland’s future inside the EU is uncertain, that’s no small task. We need to keep pressing the case for a support system that delivers bold, ambitious, and radically improved support across further and higher education - right across the year and bringing parity between FE and HE. Ultimately, our long-term goal is Universal Living Grants for free, fair and funded education.

#SupportUs We can’t do this on our own. We need YOU and your students! Let’s tell the Scottish Government to #SupportUs!

#SupportUs In time for Freshers Weeks, we have produced postcards and a selfie frame you can use to bring the campaign to your students. We want to know students’ experiences of the current support system – they can fill out the speech bubble on the back of the postcard, fill in their name and email address and give it back to their Students’ Association to pass on to the NUS Scotland team. We also have selfie frames with the #SupportUs hashtag. Students can use these to take pics to remind the Scottish Government that students are Scotland’s future – and they must be supported to succeed.

This is a vital fight – and one we can be right at the heart of We’ve been at the forefront of the fight to widen access for the best part of a decade now – and we’ve seen real progress in that time. But the getting more students into education isn’t enough, and they need to support to stay there - a reformed student support system plays a vital role in widening access. Without financial support for the least well off students, they will struggle to succeed. We’ll be leading the campaign for an improved support system for students, and particularly those from our most disadvantaged communities.