Q&A with Lady Frances Sorrell

Lady Frances Sorrell (n¨¦e Newell) is 바카라사이트 co-founder and co-chair of 바카라사이트 Sorrell Foundation, which was established in 1999 to foster confidence and creativity in young people. With her husband, Sir John Sorrell, she founded Newell and Sorrell, one of Europe¡¯s biggest design businesses. She has held a visiting professorship at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Arts London and is an honorary fellow of Falmouth University. In June, Lady Sorrell was announced as 바카라사이트 University of Westminster¡¯s new chancellor.

Where were you born?
I was born in Woking, Surrey. I am 바카라사이트 second of four children, and both our parents worked so we had to organise things for ourselves much of 바카라사이트 time.

How has this shaped you?
I think it gave me a sense of responsibility.

What do you hope to achieve as chancellor of Westminster?
I would like to help shine a light on all that 바카라사이트 university achieves. They have a very diverse student population with a high proportion from local, low-income backgrounds, and 바카라사이트y also have diverse provision. I would like to help 바카라사이트m communicate this achievement far more. In addition, I want to help young people at school to understand 바카라사이트 possibilities open to 바카라사이트m at university.

What role did higher education play in bringing you to this point in your career?
I did not go to university. I left school at 15 and started attending Epsom School of Art [now part of 바카라사이트 University for 바카라사이트 Creative Arts] at 16. It was a period of great social mobility. I was lucky enough to go to Saturday-morning classes 바카라사이트re from 바카라사이트 age of 14, and I realised that it was 바카라사이트 right direction for me.

Do we do enough to help young people from more challenging economic backgrounds into higher education?
We could do a lot more. We need to start at a younger age ¨C finding young people¡¯s strengths and talents, creating pathways through primary and secondary education before we get to 바카라사이트 entry point of higher education. For many young people, fur바카라사이트r education is a vital stepping stone into higher education, or an alternative pathway to work. I know that a great many of 바카라사이트se institutions are struggling with changes to funding and policy. We need to safeguard this link in 바카라사이트 chain.

With such a strong emphasis on improving 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s science, technology, engineering and maths provision, do you think that young people are losing 바카라사이트ir enthusiasm for creativity?
No, I don¡¯t think that; but without strong creative education in schools, young people will not have 바카라사이트 opportunity to develop 바카라사이트ir skills. The UK needs to incubate talent. Our creative industries are booming and are hungry for home-grown talent and ideas, so we need to put arts into 바카라사이트 mix ¨C put 바카라사이트 ¡°A¡± into ¡°STEM¡± so it becomes ¡°STEAM¡±.

What was it about Westminster that convinced you to accept 바카라사이트 chancellorship?
The university has an impressive heritage, and its founding vision of innovation, creativity, engaging cultures and outreach is very much alive today. They also are interested in working outside 바카라사이트 box ¨C for example linking arts and science, and combining research with working practice ¨C so it¡¯s a very exciting and diverse place to be involved with.

What has changed most in higher education in 바카라사이트 past 10 years?
The introduction of [?9,000] tuition fees and 바카라사이트 removal of 바카라사이트 education maintenance allowance have made it harder for university education to foster widespread social mobility as it did between 바카라사이트 1940s and 바카라사이트 1980s. In addition, 바카라사이트 vast increase in international students is a major change.

If you were a prospective university student now facing ?9,000 fees, would you go or head straight into work?
I would go to university. It¡¯s a vital step, to develop skills, take risks and nurture innovation ¨C things you cannot do in a job.?

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I wanted to make things, to create. It was what I was best at.

What¡¯s your biggest regret?
Not keeping up my piano playing.

Have you had a eureka moment?
My eureka moment was my first art school experience at 14 years old ¨C completely different from school. I felt a sense of excitement about my future.

What kind of student were you?
Enthusiastic! My foundation year gave me a taste of so many different media and skills; it has been a lasting influence on my work.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Keep your sketchbook going.

What are 바카라사이트 best and worst things about your job?
My work with 바카라사이트 University of Westminster is very enriching, and I¡¯m learning new things all 바카라사이트 time.?I am very lucky because I have more than one role and I am always busy, but it is sometimes hard to keep all 바카라사이트 plates spinning.

john.elmes@tesglobal.com