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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that senior officers in the armed forces should use state schools for their DCs

227 replies

soul2000 · 15/09/2013 18:30

I think it is wrong that many senior officers have a perk, that in effect is worth 40-50k pa in benefit in kind. There are state boarding schools, grammar schools and all types of state schools available.

Why should public sector employees, have this ludicrous benefit when there are state boarding schools, and if there was more demand more state schools could open boarding houses anyway.

I think this is a throwback to the 19th century, it is totally wrong in todays world. Today schools are having to make massive cut backs in all kind of expenditure, yet some officers DDS/DS are getting lessons in how to stage the perfect dinner party. This paid for by the struggling taxpayer who is forced to educate their DCs by comprehensive..

OP posts:
penguin73 · 15/09/2013 20:02

oops, repetition of a lot of good responses there - should have typed quicker! It is lovely (and very reassuring) to see all the positive responses supporting the Armed Forces, thank you :)

monicalewinski · 15/09/2013 20:02

My children attended 3 schools in a 12 month period just over a year ago, at opposite ends of Britain, due to my husband and then myself being posted. The boarding school 'perk' is available to all ranks, not just senior officers and I have wrestled with my heart about whether to take up the marvellous opportunity to live apart from my children Hmm and send my boys to boarding school for them to have some form of educational stability.

Why do you (OP) feel so strongly that my children should not be afforded a stable education just because myself and my husband are in the forces?

littlemisswise · 15/09/2013 20:03

Soul as life is so good in the Forces when are you joining?

Bowlersarm · 15/09/2013 20:03

YABVU

Why are you sounding so bitter OP?

Retropear · 15/09/2013 20:03

Oh and top personnel don't get paid much considering the stress and loss of income from their partners who will find it virtually impossible to hold down any job.

gordyslovesheep · 15/09/2013 20:04

yes but you understand the boarding bit of state school cost 10K ...it's not FREE ergo it's not level is it?

YABU

Almostfifty · 15/09/2013 20:06

I have friends in the armed forces. Their children are at boarding school. They managed to stay in one place whilst they were at Primary, but this wasn't possible when they got older. So they made the decision that their children would board, so they got stability for their education.

It was dreadful for both parents, who would have much rather had them at home, however, they realised the need for their DC to be in one place for their senior school life and so gave up normal family life so they could be settled.

If anyone thinks that it's a boon, then they should try it. I know my friend was inconsolable for the first term her eldest was away. She would have much rather that they'd stayed at home, but realised it would not be feasible in their circumstances.

The amount the Government paid is capped. The parents paid for extras, uniforms, days out, holidays, etc, etc, etc. It is still not a cheap option and also not always the way into university, top jobs and the like. Two very capable children, only one of them has made it to university.

penguin73 · 15/09/2013 20:08

Moreover SBSA schools are not free (currently 10k) per year and are paid for the tax payer as with other non-boarding state schools. Maximum amount a service person can claim is £15k per year so how much do you actually envisage saving, bearing in mind many more places will have to be found if service personnel are to be given places at them, on top of everybody else who may want that opportunity to attend them?

pickles184 · 15/09/2013 20:08

YABVVVVU as many have said this 'perk' is available to all serving personnel and the percentage given towards fees is the same regardless of rank. These men and women are by the nature of their job prepared to put their life on the line for the good of their country, offering their children a chance at educational stability is hardly an extravagance. Stories of I know a so and so who sent his kids to Eton and bathed in Caviar at the nations expense are ludicrous. Even if they were 100% accurate it is certainly not the factual reality of what is provided.
There are many, many ways in which the government wastes and unfairly allocates public money, putting a relatively small amount of money towards improving the educational chances of the forces children is not one of them.

lurkerspeaks · 15/09/2013 20:08

The last time I heard this discussed by people it affects (FCO staff and army officers) the conclusion from the conversatin was that if they restric the benefit further (ie it becomes unpayable when you are back at your home base in the UK) then they will lose staff.

As funnily enough most of these people give a shit about their children's education, have transferable skills and therefore would be able to get civilian employment which doens't prejudice their children.

For most of these families deciding to send their kids to boarding school is a big enough deal. To have the choice removed about where that was (ie. near grandparents) would also be the final straw.

As many others have said full fees aren't covered at the majority of schools as they allowance is capped. So those kids at Eton/ Harrow/ Beneden are being partially paid for by their parents.

Retropear · 15/09/2013 20:13

It makes me so cross.

Never once do you hear about the wives and children(or the agony of fathers missing their dc,coping with guilt over moving them). They just get on with it quietly- soldiers with crap resources,fear of redundancy,fear of war,fear of injury or worse,fear of the next posting(when/where),loss of careers,worry about children...... all on shit salaries for us.

They're all unsung heroes imvho and deserve this help- such as it is.

BrianTheMole · 15/09/2013 20:19

I don't begrudge forces families the option of private boarding school. It must be very difficult for forces families and the children have a right to some stability. My friends father was in the forces. They moved around so much that my friend ended up going to 13 different schools. It hasn't done him any favours as an adult.

calopene · 15/09/2013 20:21

The child is not musical nor does he have a scholarship/bursary .......his wife has stayed put in their own house while husband travels to various postings in S of England. She did not work even with 2 kids at boarding from age 7 - she has a private income. Is it right tax payer should sub them ? Her dad/brothers wEnt to Eton too btw........

BrianTheMole · 15/09/2013 20:22

I agree Retropear.

Groovee · 15/09/2013 20:23

My friend has just sent her dd to boarding school as they've been getting moved every 18 months and they want stability for her to sit her exams.

Mrsmorton · 15/09/2013 20:25

calopene report them then. That is fraud. Unless you're just waffling rubbish, you appear very well informed about all aspects of this issue so do all taxpayers a favour and make the call...

littlemisswise · 15/09/2013 20:27

If they are eligible then yes it is right calopene. If you want this 'perk' so badly then join the Forces!

penguin73 · 15/09/2013 20:27

Calopene - if that is true and the allowance is still being claimed then it is being done so fraudulently and should be reported. Link here:

www.veterans-uk.info/complaints/contact.html#5

So you now have a choice, do you continue to moan or do something about it?!

PassTheCremeEggs · 15/09/2013 20:28

YABVU. But more than being. unreasonable you're just totally ignorant.

How do you propose the state would fund the creation of all of these magical new state boarding schools? Someone would need to pay for this surely?

It is just not possible for anyone to continually claim the allowance unless they meet the criteria which are pretty narrow now. It is not a "perk" - it's designed to give continuity (hence it being called the continuity of education allowance). Why the hell should forces children not be allowed be the continuity in their education as everyone else? The fact is there aren't anywhere near enough state boarding schools so funding has to go towards private school fees instead.

If this allowance isn't offered, it wouldn't be feasible for people to stay in the forces when they're moving constantly. It's actually in the country's interests for it to be available otherwise you can't retain serving members.

Have a Biscuit or two. And do some research into what you're actually objecting to.

WannaBeANinja · 15/09/2013 20:30

here we go again!!

people like you do my fucking head in!

You don't have a clue what your talking about! But continue to do so!

Fuck off please

Original poster
soul2000 · 15/09/2013 20:31

By the way the school that teaches their six form girls how to put dinner parties on is DOWNE HOUSE. with the Pru Leith course that most 6th formers take.

OP posts:
PassTheCremeEggs · 15/09/2013 20:32

As others have said - calopene, that is fraud and absolutely not allowed within the allowance's
rules. One of the main criteria is that the spouse has to accompany the serving member on postings. Report it if your story is true.

kim147 · 15/09/2013 20:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

meditrina · 15/09/2013 20:33

"The child is not musical nor does he have a scholarship/bursary .......his wife has stayed put in their own house while husband travels to various postings in S of England. She did not work even with 2 kids at boarding from age 7 - she has a private income. Is it right tax payer should sub them ? Her dad/brothers wEnt to Eton too btw........"

Some garbles in this account, as CEA cannot be claimed before age 8.

But prima facie, what you have described is fraud. It is not "right" and is a scaling offence. Please report this. It is just plain wrong.

meditrina · 15/09/2013 20:34

'scaling' DYAC sacking offence (also prosecution).

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