Students give Cable a political grilling

Photo: Darren Robinson

COLLEGE pride . . . Sabeka Khatun, principal Nick Brown, Diljan Miah, Tom Barlow, Lucy Hufton and MP Vince Cable

POLITICIANS of the future grilled shadow chancellor Vince Cable during a tour of Oldham Sixth Form College yesterday.

The MP for Twickenham faced a barrage of questions from politics students eager to quiz him on issues such as the recession and monetary policy, Afghanistan and Iraq, and the electoral system.

And following the 45-minute question and answer session, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats heaped praise on both the students and the college.

Outstanding

He said: “I came here with high expectations because I’d heard about this college, that it was outstanding and the pride of Oldham.

“The college has done fantastic things for qualifications and is a good advertisement for multicultural education.

“The students have been very concentrated and asked quite topical questions.

“They gave me a grilling and they were right to do so.”

The college, in Union Street West, has become one of the best sixth forms in the country since it opened in 1992, with all four of its Ofsted reports rated “outstanding”.

Mr Cable said he was especially impressed with plans for the college’s proposed multi-million regional science centre and the expansion of science and maths education.

He said: “Nationally, there is a chronic shortage of people wanting to do science and maths, but the college is having to turn away highly qualified students wanting to do science. It is the basis of so many careers such as engineering.

“I hope we can do what we can to encourage them.”

Nick Brown, who is standing down as principal in July to become an author, said the college was no stranger to visits from high profile politicians, including Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Justice Minister Jack Straw, but Mr Cable had requested the visit to the college especially because he had heard about its plans and achievements.

He said: “People in London know about us because of our strong ideas — we are doing things that other colleges don’t do.

“There are some very bright students who have strong opinions, so its good that politicians get to speak to them and vice versa as they both benefit.

“For students to get to the best places, they need an edge and this experience gives them that.”