Your Officers went out Campaigning (Again!)
Over the past week, your Full-Time Officers have been representing Bristol students at national events in Westminster and Birmingham, making sure your voices are heard in the rooms where decisions are made.
From challenging unfair tuition fee proposals to demanding better financial support for students outside London, they’ve been pushing back against reforms that risk deepening inequality in higher education.
Here’s what happened and why it matters to you.
Birmingham, 10 November
Topic: TEF and Tuition Fees
Your Undergraduate Education Officer, Mia Stevens, joined Education Officers from across the UK to challenge the government’s proposal to link the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) to tuition fees.
This change would allow universities to raise fees based on quality ratings, a move that risks pricing out students from lower-income backgrounds and deepening inequality in higher education and perpetuating the idea that Higher Education is only for the wealthiest. During the event, Mia also highlighted how these changes could undermine student representation, putting unions in a difficult position where positive feedback could lead to higher fees.
Together, Education Officers came together to plan their approach to stop this change from becoming legislation. The campaign day focused on building a national strategy to oppose the proposal, including letter-writing campaigns and direct lobbying of MPs. A template letter for students to send to their MPs will be available soon, so watch this space if you want to get involved!
Westminster, 5 November
Topic: Maintenance Loans & Representation
Your Union Affairs Officer, Katie Poyner, Undergraduate Education Officer Mia Stevens, International Students’ Officer Jessie, and Student Community Organiser Wendy attended the APPG on Higher Education Reforms. The meeting was a real success and an opportunity to speak at a national level on student reform.
Katie spoke at the meeting, raising two key concerns:
- The proposed reforms threaten years of progress in student representation, potentially dismantling systems that ensure student feedback improves course quality.
- Maintenance loans outside London remain insufficient, even with inflation adjustments. Katie called for regional variation to better reflect the cost of living in cities like Bristol.
Importantly, Bristol SU’s voice was heard and minuted, meaning our concerns will be circulated to MPs ahead of future debates.
Why This Matters
These proposals could reshape the landscape of higher education, affecting how much students pay, how they’re represented, and how accessible university remains for all. Your officers are working to ensure student voices are front and centre in these national conversations.
Want to get involved?
Keep an eye out for our upcoming campaign toolkit, including a downloadable letter template to send to your MP. Together, we can push back against reforms that threaten equity and representation in higher education.
Speak to one of our Officers or Student Community Organisers and look at how you can get involved.
Do you want to know more about Higher Education Reform?
Email us with your suggestions and what you want to know 🫡
