The Children’s
Education Advisory Service (CEAS) is part of the Directorate Children &
Young People and
are the MOD’s experts on all aspects of Service children’s education
worldwide.
When moving child(ren)
to a new school, either overseas or within the UK, Service parents
should be aware
of some important issues. For example differences exist across
the borders
within the UK with regards to school term times and curriculums.
In Isolated
Detachments (ISODETS) and Extra Command Areas where there are no Service Children
Education schools, parents should be aware that the type and standard of
children’s education in those locations may vary between countries, and
sometimes between different parts the same country. Service parents accompanied
by their child(ren) when posted to such areas may decide to enrol them into
local state schools (where children are taught in English), into a state school
where the native language is spoken and where a child will be supported to
learn that language, or at an international school.
Parents
whose child(ren) are due to undertake important examinations such as GCSEs, when
considering whether to remove the child(ren) from school to accompany them to a
posting overseas, are advised to do so only if they have access to a UK
curriculum so that their education will not be disrupted in the two years
leading to those examinations.
The costs of boarding
schools in the UK can vary greatly and the school fees only make up part of the
overall costs. It is therefore important that parents, if thinking about
whether to enrol their child(ren) into a boarding school, gain a clear
understanding of the whole costs which the school may charge.
Service parents
who are due to move on Assignment when their child(ren) are in their ‘A Level’
years, or undertaking or preparing for GCSE or AS exams, may be able to retain
the Service Families Accommodation which they currently occupy, to allow the
child to complete their exams.
For more information about any issue relating to Service children’s
education and associated MOD allowances contact CEAS: 01980 618244.