university

A levels – isn’t it wonderful that teenagers will pass or fail in three hours?

January 25, 2013 By Fiona Leave a Comment

A mum's view of changes to the A level

The Government has announced A levels are changing. Qualifications will now be based solely upon the ability to pass or fail within a three-hour window of time after two years' of study. When I'm writing for anyone else, I would write about … [Read more...]

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GCSEs and A levels are easier…so let’s make them harder. Really?

August 23, 2012 By Fiona 1 Comment

Everyone should have a chance to shine.....

I always find this time of year frustrating when exam results come out for young people - results on which the future depends - or so it seems for those affected. For young people of 16 or 18, getting the 'right' results can feel like it's the only … [Read more...]

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When you left school, how did you feel? Share your experience.

June 12, 2012 By Fiona Leave a Comment

Before you know it - she's 18.....

My stepdaughter is a few days away from finishing school, A levels completed. It's a time that she, and many like her, have been waiting for - that moment when you are free and able to take charge of your own destiny. Or is it? Looking back, I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Latest Tagged With: A levels, adventure, Bath, college, crossroads, degrees, education, English Literature, higher education, job, life choices, Littlewoods, making money, Saturday job, school, secondary school, Somerset, swindon, university, Wiltshire

Should our press be free – or not? Review my thoughts…

February 11, 2012 By Fiona Leave a Comment

Don't restrict the Press.....

This week I was asked to fill in a survey about press freedom and the phone-hacking scandal. It's part of a study by a university which is questioning journalists across Europe about their views on the issue of regulation of the Press. Those of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Latest Tagged With: broadcast media, Daily Mail, Europe, journalists, jumble sales, legal, London, national newspapers, newspaper, Ofcom, phone-hacking scandal, Press freedom, survey, university, Wiltshire Swindon

Tuition fees – they’re a great idea? Aren’t they?

October 24, 2011 By Fiona Leave a Comment

Facing the future - to pay or not to pay? for university.

Today was a proud day for me - my beautiful step-daughter embraced the spotlight and appeared on BBC1 in the West presenting a film about tuition fees. In a short film for regional current affairs programme Inside Out West, she talked about the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Latest Tagged With: bbc, BBC1, Bristol, fees, higher education, Inside Out West, Martin Lewis, middle income, south west, step-daughter, step-mum, step-parents, studying, swindon, the west, tuition fees, university, Youth

What to talk about today? Riots, the economy, or exam results?

August 18, 2011 By Fiona Leave a Comment

Take a deep breath and find another way!

What a day today, the rain in Swindon hasn't stopped for a minute and it's been a momentous day for many young people awaiting A level results. Five minutes ago that was me. Turning up at my school as early as possible. But I wasn't one … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Latest Tagged With: A levels, Bath College of Higher Education, Bath Spa University, Bath University, Cambridge, economy, English Literature, exam results, examinations, exams, fail, grades, Hull University, Oxbridge, Oxford, pass, rain, riots, students, succeed, swindon, university