MoD Allocates Millions on Independent Schools to Bypass Welsh Education
The MoD spends around one million pounds annually to send children to private educational institutions in north Wales because "state schools provide some or all classes in the Welsh language".
It paid over one million pounds in day school allowance in the northern region for eighty-three students of military families in 2024-2025, and £942,000 for 79 children in 2023-2024 under a longstanding policy.
A spokesperson said "military families' children can face frequent moves" and the allowance "aims to minimize disruption to their schooling".
Plaid Cymru called it a "complete waste of money" and "a disrespect to our language" while the Tory party said families should be able to choose the language in which their kids are taught.
These numbers were obtained following a request under the public records law.
The online portal of the military installation on the island tells its personnel, "for those residing and working in north Wales, where public schools teach some or all classes in the Welsh language, you can opt to send your kids to an English-language private institution".
"Provided you are joined by your household at your posting, you can use this benefit to cover the expense of tuition fees, educational excursions/residential educational courses and daily transport."
A defense ministry representative told, "the aim of the educational stipend in the northern region (DSA-NW) is to support military households stationed to the region, where Welsh is the main language of public schooling".
"As mobility is a part of service life, military kids can face frequent moves and from DSA-NW aims to minimize interference to their education."
"The ministry supports the sacrifices service personnel, and their families make, and from DSA-NW assists with the expenses of private education given in English."
'Where teaching is bilingual or non-English'
The benefit covers school costs up to a limit of £22,755 annually, seven thousand five hundred eighty-five pounds each semester, and is available to people living in the counties of the county, Denbighshire, Gwynedd, Anglesey or Flintshire and working in one of the following establishments:
- RAF Valley, the island
- The combined forces alpine training facility, Anglesey
- Joint Services Mountain Training Wing, Llanrwst
- The university military training program (UOTC), Bangor unit, the city
The eligible independent institutions are Treffos school, the village, Anglesey; Rydal Penrhos preparatory institution in the town; St Gerard's school, Bangor and St David's College, Llandudno.
The applicable joint service publication states that "disbursement of the allowance is limited to those regions where instruction in the state sector is on a dual-language or non-English basis".
Personnel serving elsewhere in the multiple services of the armed forces - the ground forces, the naval service and the Royal Air Force - can apply for a educational continuity benefit which contributes towards residential and/or school charges up to a cap, with a minimum parental contribution of ten percent for each eligible child.
Welsh Conservative Senedd member the politician said "members of the British armed forces relocate across the country and the world, and the ministry has always sought to ensure that their children have availability to continuity in education".
"Although we strongly endorse Welsh-language teaching throughout the country, it's important to recognize there are dual recognized tongues in our nation, English and the Welsh language, and local councils and education authorities should provide for each."
"Families should always have the option to select the medium in which their children are instructed."
The Welsh party's learning representative the assembly member said "not only is this a total misuse of funding, it is an insult to our tongue".
"I cannot think of any valid reason to be allocating these funds every year, on preventing youth residing in the country from having the chance to acquire the Welsh language."
"Dual-language ability enriches experience and aids the development of youth, but the British administration is obviously blind to this."
"These funds is a clear illustration of the approach of the Westminster parties regarding the nation and the Welsh language - namely unawareness and insults."
