The Hopkins family of Luton (below) holds what is perhaps an unparalleled record in further education.
For the past 15 years, at least one member of the family has sat on the board of the town’s sixth-form college.
Governing was in the Hopkins family long before dad Kelvin got elected as MP for Luton South at the last election.
Kelvin is a former economics and politics lecturer at St Albans (now Oaklands) college and was chair of governors at Luton College of Higher Education from 1985 to 1989. He is the college’s current and longest-serving incumbent, now in his sixth year. But his son Danny and daughter Rachel were both student governors and wife Pat served as a parent governor for four years.
“We are all very proud of the sixth-form college in Luton”, said Pat. “It’s a great place and gets excellent results.”
After declaring an interest (“It was Pat who appointed me”), principal Brian Howseman paid tribute to the public-spirited Kelvin.
“He always finds the time to come to meetings and his attendance record is quite remarkable - something like 95 per cent. He even mentioned the sixth-form college in his maiden speech.”
Kelvin - a stalwart of the parliamentary FE group - has even managed to win ministerial blessing for the college: Education and Employment Secretary David Blunkett will be opening its new refectory later this month.
