Britain's children should be given army-style training at school Cadet camps to improve standards of behaviour, think tank urges
More pupils should learn army-style discipline through school-based cadet schemes, a think thank has urged.
The New Britain Project (TNBP) is calling for the number of schools offering the programme to double from 268 to 500 by 2029.
Research shows Combined Cadet Force (CFF) units in schools can reinforce 'discipline' and 'standards of behaviour'.
In addition, cadet participants have better attendance, aspiration, resilience and a greater sense of belonging.
TNBP, a centre-Left think tank, said increasing cadet participation among pupils would likely have public backing.
Its polling of 2,000 adults found 55 per cent back extending cadets into more schools, with just seven per cent opposed.
And 60 per cent of those polled said they would encourage their child or someone they know to join the cadets.
In addition, 62 per cent thought cadets help pupils feel a greater sense of 'national duty'.
The CCF is a voluntary, school-based programme supported by the Ministry of Defence but its focus is not army recruitment.
Pupils take part in structured, challenging activities aimed at building character – including fieldcraft, first aid, leadership tasks and expeditions.
Research from Northampton University's Institute for Social Innovation and Impact (ISII) found one benefit of CCF is better behaviour in schools.
The paper said: 'A significant minority of children do not have a homelife that imposes standards and discipline, or positive role models.
'For these children, being a member of a CCF contingent may be the first time they have been told that they cannot do something, but must behave in certain ways.
'For such children, the social impact of the CCF cannot be overstated.'
TNBP said the case for expanding the CCF programme is 'stronger than ever' amid rising behaviour challenges in schools and high pupil absence.
It has called on the Government to set a long-term ambition to make cadets a mainstream offer in state secondary schools, alongside music, sport, art and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
Currently, only one in 13 state secondary schools currently offer cadets and around 80 schools stuck on a waiting list.
The think tank's poll, conducted by More In Common, found 73 per cent of respondents thought cadets could improve pupil health, while 59 per cent said it would help mental health.
Anna McShane, director of TNBP, said: 'The CCF isn't a silver bullet. It can't replace investment in teaching, mental health, or youth services.
'But it is a practical, proven tool, already in use in hundreds of schools, that could be scaled to support thousands more pupils, especially those who stand to benefit the most.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
33 minutes ago
- The Sun
Newbuild owners show before & after of ‘garden nightmare' that went from green & fluffy to muddy pit after pest invasion
A NEWBUILD homeowner has shared a shocking before and after look at her 'garden 'nightmare'. Charley Mary, a mother from the UK, explained that when she and her man moved into their newbuild property, the grass in their garden was perfect. 3 3 But, before long, a horrifying pest invasion turned the luscious lawn into a muddy pit. Posting on social media, the content creator shared a close-up look at her garden 's downfall, leaving many totally stunned. Alongside the short clip of her 'garden nightmare', the savvy mum begged: 'Send help.' At the start of the video, viewers saw Charley's garden shortly after she and her partner moved in. She wrote: 'What it looked like before…so fluffy and green.' But moments later, alongside a crying emoji, Charley added: 'Then the leatherjackets came …and now this is what it looks like.' The stunning grass was practically nowhere to be seen, with her garden merely soil with a few patches of sparse grass. What are leatherjackets? As recently reported by Fabulous, Ben Agnew, a grass expert at Lawnsmith, warned gardening gurus to be on the lookout for signs of leatherjackets - a common pest that destroys grass from the roots up. The gardening pro said: "Although small, these grubs can be a nightmare for your lawn. 'An infestation can undo all the hard work you've put in and leave you with nothing. Nature's Defenses: Organic Solutions to Garden Pest Problems "They thrive by eating the roots of grass and plants, killing their food source as they go. 'As they exist under the surface of your lawn, the first sign of an issue is your lawn dying, leaving yellow patches that then turn brown. 'The damp, wet conditions experienced in the UK during winter create the perfect environment for the eggs to hatch into leatherjackets." Common garden pests Common pests in the garden don't need to be a cause for alarm. If you can identify them, you can work on getting rid of them and preventing them from returning. Aphids (Greenfly, Blackfly) Aphids are extremely common and can impact plant growth. They have tiny soft pear-shaped bodies, and are usually green or black. You may spot them clustered on the stem of soft shoots – look under leaves in particular – or may find a sticky substance on your plants that gives away aphids have been there sucking at the sap. Whitefly These small white-winged insects are related to aphids, at just 1 or 2 mm in length, and look very much like white moths as adults. They can be found on the underside of leaves, preferring younger, fresher leaves. They fly in clusters when you disturb them. Their lifecycle is only three weeks long, which means an infestation can occur very rapidly. Slugs An unmissable, squashy-looking body plus small sensory tentacles on its head. Slugs move along on one muscular foot. They range in scale from surprisingly small to terrifyingly large; limax cinereoniger species can grow comfortably beyond 20 cm in length. Cabbage Moth Caterpillar Cabbage moth caterpillars happily make their way into the heart of the vegetables, The caterpillars are distinguished in shades of yellow or browny green with no hair. Mealy Bug Mealybugs are tiny oval-shaped insects that have a white, powdery wax coating. There are several different species, many of which have what looks like legs coming from their sides and back end. In their earliest stage of life, it's entirely possible to mistake them for fungus and not recognise them as insects at all. Leatherjackets are legless grubs with tough, leathery skin. They are typically grey or brown in colour and can grow up to three cm in length. For those looking to take action to avoid maximum damage, Ben advised: "Prevention is easier than the cure for a leatherjacket infestation. 'Effective treatment comes in the form of microscopic bacterial worms, called nematodes, specifically 'Steinernema feltiae'. "Nematodes get rid of leatherjackets by infiltrating their outer casing and subsequently killing them. "Leatherjackets can cause considerable damage, and even after treatment, it can be challenging to restore your lawn to its former state. 'It can take your garden some time to return to its former glory." Additionally, Ben recommended: " Aerating your lawn can help improve drainage. To do this, simply create holes in the turf to allow it to breathe and encourage water to disperse.' Tips for keeping pests from your garden Plant companion plants such as peppermint to repel rats. Place Garden Netting Pest Barrier, over your flowerbeds. Fill open-top containers with beer and place in soil to repel slugs. Spray plants with Neem Oil, to repel ants, flies, and spiders. Dust your flowerbeds with Diatomaceous Earth. Mix 1 tablespoon dish soap, 10 drops peppermint oil, and 4 cups water and spray on flowerbeds. Place eggshells around your plants to protect from slugs and snails. Not only this, but Ben also acknowledged that heavily shaded gardens can also suffer, so removing thick branches of overhanging trees and bushes can help more sunlight reach the turf. Ben also stressed: "Some soils are better than others for drainage. For example, nutrient-dense clay soils can make gardens more prone to flooding. 'If you often see water pooling in your garden, investigate the type of soil so you know how to nurture the lawn correctly." Social media users react Charley's TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ charleymaryy, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly gone viral and racked up 9.9 million views. Not only this, but it's also amassed 482,700 likes, 2,722 comments and 19,000 saves. Social media users were gobsmacked at the garden nightmare and many eagerly flocked to the comments to share their thoughts. Not only this, but other newbuild homeowners also confessed that they too have experienced the same issue with their grass. One person said: 'Reason why I would never buy a new build number 10287399.' Another added: 'We have the same. Heard it's a mixture of clay soil, lack of drainage, not enough topsoil, no vegetation and non stop rain.' Alongside shocked face emojis, a third simply commented: 'Brutal.' Meanwhile, another homeowner shared: 'The EXACT same thing has happened to all the gardens on my estate too.' Not only this, but someone else claimed: 'It seems like every new build has this problem.'
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Emergency and gas crews at Halifax explosion scene
Emergency crews and gas engineers were called to the scene of an explosion in West Yorkshire in the early hours, according to Northern Gas gas distribution company said engineers were called to the incident on Spring Hall Lane in Halifax at about 12:30 BST on Thursday.A spokesperson said the firm was "working closely with the emergency services to support the incident".Meanwhile, they added that it was "too early to speculate on the cause at this time".
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Elderly residents without water for days at Bournemouth flats
Elderly residents living in sheltered housing, including a 100-year-old woman, have said they have "had enough" after being without water since Monday Benton, who has lived at Wimborne House in Bournemouth for four years, said he has had "nothing but water issues" and that dozens of residents have been 60-year-old electronics engineer said they were given bottled water on Tuesday but they were still unable to flush their toilets or have site, made up of 38 flats, is run by Sanctuary Housing Association, which said its contractor "will complete the repairs as soon as the specialist part required is delivered". Mr Benton said: "Generally the maintenance on this place has been an issue."He claimed it took almost a year for them to fix his shower when it leaked."It's been constant," he BBC previously reported on the flats in 2022, when they were without water for 11 Benton who pays rent and a service charge for his studio flat, is concerned about how long the residents will have to wait this time said residents have "had enough" and believed Sanctuary Housing Association "shouldn't be penny pinching on stuff like this". He added that he was worried for some of the older residents who might not be able to get out and look after themselves as well as he can."One woman had her 100th birthday in April and some are in their 90s," he said."A lot of people there live in their flat and only come out to do the bare necessities."A spokesperson for Sanctuary said: "Our contractor will complete the repairs as soon as the specialist part required is delivered and we are sorry for the disruption the water pump issue has caused our customers."In the meantime, we have provided all affected households with bottled water to use and we will also ensure our Scheme Manager continues to carry out regular welfare checks with our customers until the fault is resolved." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
