Does anyone claim CEA (what used to be Boarding School Allowance)?

[Sidge]

If so would you come and tell me a bit more about it please? (CAT me if you prefer to talk privately.)

I'm a bit all confused despite reading the JSP and need to understand a bit more about the value of the allowance - I need hard figures!!

Thanks muchly.

Scaryteacher -a lot of boy and girls come into our school to board at sixthform so its definitely an option and they still get the chance to be headboy/ head girl of boarding too. We've also got the cadet corps. My ds is in year 13 and all his peers are doing as well if not better than his friends in the private sector and no entrance exam. But a warning if any one out there fancies a career change make sure that you remain British/EU tax payers for three years prior to university or you may have to pay full overseas student rates for your ds/dd.

I'm not normally mobile - I stayed in the West Country for 20 years, whilst he weekended and did sea jobs; as we're Navy, we've always had our own place, and that suited us. He has his last appointment in 2010-2014, and if he isn't able to stay out here, then I think it would be MOD or Abbeywood (neither of which fill us with joy!). If the former, then I'd go back to Cornwall, and the MOD could pick up fees for Kelly perhaps, or Canford, as I'd go back to teaching again.

I thought they'd pay CEA if he was at MOD - thanks.

Googiesmum - looking at the pension I think there is little chance that dh won't be paying tax!

I agree MoG that there are some strange views out there about boarding. DH boarded from 9, and loved it; I didn't board until sixth form, and that worked for me. I don't think that people appreciate the upheaval that Forces families go through every two years when your husband gets reappointed. In some cases I think it comes down to boarding school or your marriage, and having grown up in a Forces family as well, I've seen the pros and cons of both choices.

It does depend on the child though, boarding is not for everyone. My best friend is Director of Boarding at a girls school, and she says the same. Some kids jus aren't cut out for it, though she does think it would benefit ds!