>London

Driving rain did its best to scupper the protest at Leyton 6th form college, in Waltham Forest, North London. But about 15 students joined us at the college gates. They took the megaphone and chanted, ‘join the protest, shut down the college’.

Over the last 2 weeks, thirty or more students have shown an interest in ISR. The bold ‘Strike!’ leaflets really grabbed attention of students who had seen about the rail strikes, tube workers and teachers in the news.

Although 6th form colleges weren’t involved in the London teachers strike on the 14th March, many students knew about it and went on the demo. One told us, ‘we had one really good teacher but she left because of the pay. All the best teachers leave. We just get supply teachers.’
This is just the beginning at Leyton College. We’ll be helping to set up an ISR group and organise more protests.

In central London, ISR members from LSE and UCL universities held lunchtime protest outside London offices of discredited accountancy firm Arthur Andersen. Security guards were very edgy about the protester presence, especially as staff were coming out of the building to take ISR leaflets!

In Lewisham, Sedgehill Park School, a schools student had prepared the ground for strike action by the school students there but a campaign of intimidation, including a letter to all parents and a police presence on the morning of the strike action, stopped it going ahead. A number were prepared to come out. ISR members went back into the school and some of the teachers were friendlier. The organiser was then taken into the headmasters office, but rather than face disciplinary action he was shown the school budget to show how the school couldn’t afford more teachers. This shows that the headmaster took the threatened strike action seriously. Many students are determined to take part in action next time.

In Haggerston school and Hackney Community College, East London, over 100 students took part in a school strike. Over 30 took part in a demonstration from Haggerston school, to the College, and then to the Edith Cavell education buildings of Hackney council. It was an extremely lively demonstration, with everyone shouting ‘what do we want? Free education, When do we want it? NOW!.’ Many people waiting at bus stops, and passing in their cars gave the demonstration their support. When the demonstration went past the fire station, firefighters were shouting, ‘keep it up, just keep going’. All of this gave the demonstration more confidence, and some students who didn’t start with the demonstration joined on during it.
All the students made it clear they were sick of the underfunded education system. Hackney is the 4th poorest area in Britain, and the council management, have made huge cuts to education over the past few years, with many education services being privatised. There is a campaign being built now for a possible all Hackney school strike to take place after the Easter holidays.

>Newcastle

At Newcastle college we had around 30 classroom meetings, where lecturers let us speak to the students about the issues surrounding the protest. Joseph Mcswegan, a student from the college, says: ‘We succeeded in talking to students about cuts, and especially about student fees and debt. We got widespread support from both the students and the lecturers. Then we caused a bit of a ruckus in the main piazza. We hope we have shown other students we have a voice, and that we can make a difference.’

Dan, another student, said ‘We got widespread support. Even the security guards who were given the job of breaking up our demo were sympathetic. The only one who objected to our protest was the private manager of the building (principle of the college). He came out and told us to stop, we asked why? And he said because I want you to! He doesn’t care about the issues effecting students - only the smooth running of the college and his bonus.’

Although most of those elected onto the student union were helpful one of them showed a complete lack of understanding. He argued that student debt teaches kids how to budget!

>Wales

I'm Michael Keane From Tycoch College, Swansea, Wales and I have received a poster that says that there will be a protest meeting outside the building on Friday 15 March at 12.30.

I am very pleased that people are taking action against trying to ban tuition fees.

I hope to go to University next September and I am afraid that I won't be able to afford it. It is amazing to see that labour have not yet scraped Tuition fees. I am very angry that they will do no such thing. I will be going to the protest meeting outside the college and I hope that it will be a good turnout.

>Cardiff

“Education is a right, not a commodity” echoed around Cardiff University as Socialist Students and ISR held a protest with our banner outside the university linking the fight against tuition fees to the increasing commercialisation of education. “We are one link in the chain of protests across Europe against the privatisation of education.” said Alex Gounelas. Even though the Welsh Assembly has agreed to provide grants for some Welsh students most students are still opposed to fees and readily sign our petition.

>Leicester

Around 50 students from across Leicester took part in an anti-cuts rally at De Montfort University on ISR’s day of action. Drenched by the pouring rain the protesters were watched constantly by both police and security. A near by college were worried by a walkout and closed its gates, a cynical attempt to stop their students joining in. After some speeches on the megaphone, the rally marched to the student union and then to the vice chancellors office. Some answers were needed. Why do the people who run DMU feel it necessary to sell off university facilities into private hands? Why is this University, one of the most under funded in the country, slowly falling into crisis without any resistance from the governors. Unsurprisingly we did not get any answers, just a defensive interview with three of the students. Despite this, and the dreadful weather, it was a successful day of action. The Leicester branch of ISR was also boosted when it welcomed several new members, and the rally certainly caused a stir.
The gates were locked at Gateway College, Leicester, on Friday March 15th. It was an attempt by the college management to prevent students walking out to support the ISR day of action. An "exclusion zone" with police style incident tape and three security guards was even set up by the front entrance to prevent students from getting too close to our rally!

About 50 students braved the pouring rain to protest for free education and against cuts around De Montford University. 25 of them came on strike from QE College and marched about a mile to join the rally. Considering the weather this was a success, particularly as there was an upbeat and combative mood.

After the rally outside Gateway College, we marched around the campus to the De Montfort Student Union, and then to the Vice Chancellor's office with the aim of showing him exactly how we felt. He was not in, however we sent a delegation to talk to his next in command. He had earlier sent an email out to lecturers warning them about International Socialist Resistance and the strike. We obviously made the authorities very nervous.

People felt it was a good day, and the ISR has gained much out of it. We have people keen on building the ISR and organising further action in QE and Gateway Colleges, and in Leicester and De Montfort Universities.

Dave Score

One student at DMU said:
"Its not just the government Tuition Fees we have to pay. Arts and design faculties are charging students extra money on top of their fees for materials and refusing to teach or not giving exam results if they are not paid within the semester."

Martin Balbier, a sixth former at QE College, said:
"I'm here for free education. We should have grants not fees. Lots of students leave college because they cannot afford to. In the future students like myself may not be able to go at all because of lack of grants and the fees. We shouldn't have privatised education, governments should be supporting education not shunning it"

>Mansfeild

At least one tutor had said their students could have the afternoon off to take part in the protest, but I don't think all their students did! 12 FE students took part in a lunchtime mini-demo from one site of West Notts College to Mansfield Market Place (about 300 yards!) where we set up a stall. With a megaphone and placards we made an impact. Several of them took Petitions around, including into McDonalds.

Neal Ellenberger was on local radio news broadcasts during the morning. I was interviewed by college radio (one of the students who took part).

A number of them were enthusiastic about taking part in future events and took leaflets back to the college for an ISR meeting on Tuesday. They seemed keen on the idea of setting up a local branch. Some won't be able to come on Tuesday because they're working or live too far away.
But the event was very good, and we hope to build on our success in the coming weeks.