To wonder if its fair that some forces children get fees paid at private schools?

[scruffybird]

A few old friends of mine have their children at good private boarding schools due to ninety percent of the fees being paid for by the forces. I am perfectly aware that I may be being unreasonable for even questioning this, but it just seems wrong?
One of the girls has gone to a school hundreds of miles away from where her family live so that she would be eligible.

I think all military threads should have an automatic exit installed, or a trap door.

i always find it fascinating how liberal the military can be, in comparison to the odd frothing berserker civilian who is much less accepting. you'd think it would be the other way round, but so often it's not. last year we had the military standing up for the rights of the anti-war demonstrators in wootton bassett.

it's a funny old world. maybe it's the exposure to different cultures etc, rather than never moving away from where you were born? really interesting.

but it is, indeed, a choice to be so narrow minded.

lest we forget, and all that.

Got to be something in that madwoman. I know people from secondary that have never left Britain!

I guess our Armed Forces, having fought and so many died for freedom of speech, are fiercely protective of ensuring everyone has the right?

even nikon.

Even Nikon.

Hey, who stole my strikethrough!

What seems a real shame to me is that the Schooling allowance rules have had to be tightened up massively due to abuse by a small number of senior staff, who have become deskwallahs at the MOD

to some extent it would be better if it were not open to the top ranks (who are paid enough to afford the fees) so that more of the middle and lower ranks could get it

Totally agree Talkin should only be available to those that truly need it.

It is great that the rules have been tightened up and enforced as people were committing fraud by claiming illegally. I don't think abuse was solely connected to the highest ranks. I certainly know of cases both with SNCOs and Officers. I think that the new rules will affect postings to London as you now have to move the family as well to qualify for CEA.
talkinpeace Just wondered where you would place you cut off at what rank?

going
I'm not a forces expert
but when one of the forces has more admirals than ships and yet makes its rating redundant
and another sells its harrier flight to the US
and another spends £500 million of the equipment budget on consultants
part of me thinks that the WHOLE upper echelons should be made redundant and competent people promoted

the abuser of the allowance system that I know of is at half Colonel equivalent and HE does not need the money as his wife has a well paid job and does not move with him

'I will have my whole family here for the week christmas eve until 2 jan because we made the choices to live and work within an hour of each other.'
And I will have mine as they can get on a plane and come to stay.

There are very few people I know, even amongst the civilians, who live and work where they grew up, as work opportunities have taken them away. Those who are ambitious will move for the work and not insist on staying where they are,

TalkinPeace - the Forces didn't choose the cuts, or to sell the Harriers and the MoD spent the money on consultants - political and Civil Service decisions; not military ones.

'to some extent it would be better if it were not open to the top ranks (who are paid enough to afford the fees) so that more of the middle and lower ranks could get it'. Any of the middle and lower ranks can apply; they are not barred from doing so. However, those at the 'top' (and please define the rank you see as top starts) are more likely to have children at the age when boarding becomes important. i.e: the exam years. I would also point out that the headline salary may look great, but in reality is somewhat less after deductions.

I quite agree the abusers of the system should be rooted out, but needing the allowance and deliberately breaking the rules are two separate issues. If one fits the CEA criteria, and your child boards, then claim by all means. It is a case of use it, or everyone loses it. They are looking to cut where they can, and CEA is one of the places they are looking. Until such time as they stop foreign postings, and can guarantee 5 year appointments to fit with schooling, CEA will be necessary.

if his wife doesn't move with him, he isn't entitled to cea. it doesn't reflect on the actual entitlement if he's not entitled and claims fraudulently. it reflects on him. it's a bit of a pita though, as everyone gets tarred with same brush.

dh's parents and sister are flying out to us as well. both sets of parents stayed with us for several weeks in the summer. truth to tell, we probably see more of our extended families by not staying in the same country! the ils are actually staying for the whole of january and renting an apartment just up the road.