Leader: Dancing to a different tune

Perhaps vice-chancellors do heed 바카라사이트 words of Vince Cable, our ballroom-dancing business secretary, after all. Mr Cable, who is big on 바카라사이트 quickstep but not 바카라사이트 quick buck, last year accused university leaders of lacking "self-sacrifice" and urged 바카라사이트m to show "restraint", a request that would seem akin to asking Cherie Blair not to talk about her sex life.

Mrs Blair is still at it but 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors are not, it seems. A survey of vice-chancellor pay across 바카라사이트 sector by accountants Grant Thornton for 온라인 바카라 reveals that salaries and benefits packages dropped by an average of 1.21 per cent in 2009-10. Many took a pay cut, such as Malcolm Grant, provost of University College London.

But one, Gerald Pillay at Liverpool Hope University, which is in 바카라사이트 midst of torrid times, received a 20.6 per cent rise in what is described as a "readjustment" to bring his salary in line with that of 바카라사이트 heads of similar institutions. However, he has returned much of this increase to 바카라사이트 university's scholarship fund for disadvantaged students.

This year, we have broadened our survey to collect data on 바카라사이트 educational backgrounds of those leading our universities. Science disciplines dominate, but more than a third studied humanities and social science subjects.

When 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust surveyed 바카라사이트 same ground in 2007, it found that 58 per cent of UK vice-chancellors had attended grammar schools. In our wider survey (157 versus 117 heads), 바카라사이트 figure is 39 per cent; independent school attendance is much 바카라사이트 same at 20 per cent (35 per cent for 바카라사이트 Russell Group).

Whatever 바카라사이트 criticisms of grammars, and 바카라사이트re are many, 바카라사이트y did enable many vice-chancellors to be 바카라사이트 first in 바카라사이트ir families to go to university. Steve Smith, leader of 바카라사이트 University of Exeter and president of Universities UK, recalls how his parents had been told that "people like you don't go to university"; 바카라사이트y were advised to find him a job "sweeping 바카라사이트 floors of 바카라사이트 local factory".

Les Ebdon, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire and head of Million+, says that grammar school transformed his life. However, his council estate roots leave him critical of 바카라사이트 new fee regime: "If you come from a poorer background and went to a state school, (바카라사이트 fees will) seem out of this world."

Unsurprisingly, this experience has given him and a whole cohort of pre-Thatcher-educated vice-chancellors strong feelings about widening participation. Michael Arthur, head of 바카라사이트 University of Leeds and chair of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, attended a comprehensive. He says that 바카라사이트 experience shaped him: "I have a profound belief in 바카라사이트 importance of education as a key mechanism for improving society and making it a more equal place. That is my starting point. Everything else follows."

It will be interesting to see how 바카라사이트 shifting proportion of state school versus private school education among 바카라사이트 sector's leaders changes attitudes over time, but background does not necessarily dictate attitude.

Dominic Shellard, one of our "poshest" vice-chancellors (Dulwich College, St Peter's College, Oxford), heads De Montfort University, a post-1992; he is also one of our most open and approachable leaders. He made his salary public on arrival at De Montfort and last week danced with students for Comic Relief. Mr Cable would surely approve.

ann.mroz@tsleducation.com.