THE president of Worcester Students Union says students have coped well in a challenging year, and should be praised for sticking to the lockdown rules.

Meg Price, the president of the body that represents University of Worcester students, said the mood of the campus was brighter and she was hopeful of the more traditional student experience returning for next year.

The current lockdown roadmap is for university students in England to return to face-to-face teaching no earlier than May 17.

For many students it will mean that the majority of the year will have been restricted to online teaching, with no return before the end of this semester as their course will have finished by that date.

The president said the past year had been frustrating for many, but there are some students on different timetables - for example those who started February - who will be able to be back in after that date.

"We have tried really hard to make sure they have as much face-to-face activities that has been allowed," she said.

"In comparison to other students (elsewhere) our students have had the opportunity to do things face-to-face.

"We are trying our best, we have just recommenced some sporting activities that are allowed. We have opened up a marquee outside, for students to go and eat and drink together now.

"We are trying to provide as much as we can possibly can.

"But throughout lockdown we tried really hard with the online activities, building a student community online. Our sports clubs and societies still run online.

"Obviously though it isn't the amazing university face-to-face experience there is in normal years.

"It has not been the same social experience but we and the university have worked really hard. It has been a really challenging time.

"We still have concerns about students' mental health - calls for counselling have gone up by 34 per cent."

Miss Price said at times students had felt angry at the government as they felt they had been forgotten about, as some of the government announcements did not even mention universities.

Miss Price added: "Through this year students have behaved incredible well.

"We are really proud of the way they have acted because as far as we are aware there has been no transmission of Covid on campus.

"That is down to the community.

"Things are looking a lot better with Covid - I think it could be a really positive student experience next year."

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