Service pupils
Information about Study Higher events for service pupils and support within institutions for this cohort.
Who is a ‘service pupil’ or ‘service child’?
The Service Children’s Progression (SCiP) Alliance defines a service child as:
‘a person whose parent or carer serves in the Regular Armed Forces, or as a Reservist, or has done at any point during the first 25 years of that person’s life’.
Although the SCiP Alliance uses the term ‘service child’ in its definition, other terms may be used, such as ‘service pupil’ and ‘young person from an Armed Forces family’. Study Higher primarily uses the term ‘service pupil’.
Contextual information
Across England there are nearly 80,000 service pupils, with 81% of secondary schools having at least one student in receipt of Service Pupil Premium (SPP) (government funding for schools to provide additional support for service pupils). Within the Study Higher region (Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Swindon) there are 5753 service pupils in total, of which 2140 are secondary school students.
Young people from Armed Forces families are underrepresented in higher education (HE) in England compared to the national average, and research suggests that this gap has increased in recent years.
Due to the nature of military family life, service pupils have a variety of experiences and needs that are influenced by multiple factors, such as mobility and deployment. These factors can have an impact on young people in various ways, for example on their attainment, wellbeing and engagement with school, in addition to HE progression.
Overall, Study Higher works to support the many service pupils within its region and tackle the HE participation gap.
Study Higher events for service pupils
In 2021, Study Higher started its Future Focus programme to specifically support service pupils. We organise higher education (HE) campus visits and events for service pupils within the Study Higher region that provide impartial information about future options and an experience of HE. An exciting programme of activities is being planned for 2025/26 -see below more information. This page will be updated throughout the year with more events and information.
Future Thinkers (Social Sciences)
When: Tuesday 18th November 2025
Where: Buckinghamshire New University, High Wycombe
Year group: 9 and 10
Agenda:
- Students will take part in interactive workshops exploring the fascinating world of the social sciences.
- University Student Ambassadors will lead a campus tour with the chance to ask questions about university life.
- The day will finish with speed interviewing, where pupils will have the opportunity to chat to university students and professionals in social science fields.
The event is FREE to attend with transport and lunch included.
For more information please email Rosanna Mills at: futurefocus@brookes.ac.uk
The impact of Future Focus
In 2024/25, Study Higher organised two campus events for service pupils through the Future Focus programme, addressing the unique experiences of young people from Armed Forces families and supporting higher education progression. Additionally, we facilitated a co-design project with students in Years 9 and 10 focused on service pupils voice and views to help inform our future outreach.
Since 2021 we have worked with 226 service pupils in years 9-11 and facilitated ten events with different higher education institutions providing young people with the opportunity to explore different progression pathways.
Please see below for our impact infographics for 2024/25 and 2023/24.
Feedback for Future Focus
Really engaged and the students who thought they wouldn’t enjoy it, joined in and gave it a go.
Teacher Feedback
It was great hearing from everyone. They made me feel better about not being certain about what I want to do.
Service Pupil Feedback
Learnt more [about] different STEM opportunities available for me in the future and the support I can get in HE.
Service Pupil Feedback
Helped me better understand myself and others and helped me with social skills and working as a team.
Service Pupil Feedback
Increased my knowledge of higher education and helped me make up my mind what I want to do in years to come.
Service Pupil Feedback
It's interesting and makes students realise that university isn't just for 'clever' people.
Teacher Feedback
It helped with taking responsibility of myself loads more.
Service Pupil Feedback
The people involved were really friendly and approachable. It was an engaging event with motivational people. I feel better about maybe applying to a university.
Service Pupil Feedback
Applying to do a degree at college or university:
If you are a service pupil who is thinking of applying for a degree, or you are supporting a service pupil, you might find this information useful. We have highlighted some key information about UCAS, personal statements and UCAS’ ‘tick the box’, which informs HE providers of a young person’s service pupil status.
Support from HEIs for service pupils
The guidance document below details the support available that is offered across the country for students from Armed Forces families who are considering university/higher education level study.