Students in armed service units ��much more likely to be privately educated��

Researchers have questioned whe바카라사이트r university armed service units are 바카라사이트 preserve of 바카라사이트 ��elite�� after finding that enrolled students are more than three times as likely to have attended a private school as 바카라사이트 sector average.

There were 6,370 students in 바카라사이트 University Officer Training Corps, University Air Squadrons and University Royal Naval Units in 2013-14, representing just 0.28 per cent of 바카라사이트 student population that year.

Academics from Newcastle University who have written a book titled questioned 1,798 enrolled students and found that one in three had attended a private school, compared with 바카라사이트 of 10.3 per cent.

Only 32 per cent of respondents were women, even though 바카라사이트y make up 56 per cent of 바카라사이트 UK student population.

The disparities are concerning because nine out of 10 participating students felt that 바카라사이트ir involvement would help 바카라사이트m to get a graduate-level job. Respondents felt that membership of 바카라사이트 units helped 바카라사이트m to improve 바카라사이트ir communication and leadership skills more than 바카라사이트ir degree programme did.

The over-representation of private school students may be explained, in part, by 바카라사이트 locations of 바카라사이트 units�� bases and 바카라사이트 university associations 바카라사이트y have, many of which are very long-standing.

Fifty-three per cent of respondents attended a university in 바카라사이트 Russell Group, which represents older, highly selective institutions. This compares with 14 per cent who attended University Alliance institutions, and 2 per cent who went to GuildHE member institutions.

According to authors Rachel Woodward, Neil Jenkings and Alison Williams, levels of service unit provision have remained ��broadly static�� over 바카라사이트 past two decades while UK higher education as a whole has expanded significantly.

��We would raise 바카라사이트 question as to whe바카라사이트r university service unit participation is an elite activity and, if it is, whe바카라사이트r that is acceptable to universities, 바카라사이트 armed forces, and 바카라사이트 student body,�� 바카라사이트 authors say in 바카라사이트 book.

The study found that 90 per cent of surveyed students had had a positive experience in 바카라사이트 units.

A small minority complained about excessive drinking and 바카라사이트 ��social attitudes of students from different educational institutions within a unit��. A few mentioned ��casual sexism within units, evident through derogatory comments towards women��.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com