Ministry of Defence Spends Large Sums on Private Schools to Bypass Welsh Language Education
The MoD allocates approximately one million pounds annually to send children to private educational institutions in north Wales because "public schools teach various lessons in the Welsh language".
The ministry disbursed £1,019,000 in day school allowance in the northern region for eighty-three students of military families in 2024-2025, and nearly one million pounds for seventy-nine students in 2023-2024 under a established policy.
An official representative said "military families' children can face regular relocations" and the allowance "aims to minimize interruption to their schooling".
Plaid Cymru described it as a "complete waste of money" and "a disrespect to our tongue" while the Conservatives said families should be able to select the medium in which their children are taught.
The figures were obtained following a request under the Freedom of Information Act.
The website of RAF Valley on Anglesey tells its workforce, "for those residing and working in north Wales, where public schools provide various classes in the Welsh tongue, you can opt to send your children to an English-medium private institution".
"Provided you are accompanied by your family at your duty station, you can utilize this benefit to cover the expense of tuition fees, educational excursions/residential learning programs and daily transport."
A defense ministry representative explained, "the purpose of the educational stipend in the northern region (DSA-NW) is to support service families stationed to the region, where the Welsh tongue is the main language of local state education".
"Since relocation is a aspect of military career, military kids can face frequent moves and from DSA-NW aims to minimize disruption to their learning."
"The ministry supports the contributions military members, and their relatives undertake, and from the stipend assists with the costs of independent day schooling provided in English."
'Where teaching is bilingual or non-English'
The benefit covers tuition fees up to a maximum of £22,755 annually, £7,585 each semester, and is accessible to people living in the regions of Conwy, the area, Gwynedd, Anglesey or Flintshire and serving in one of the following establishments:
- RAF Valley, Anglesey
- Joint Services Mountain Training Centre, the island
- The joint military mountain unit, the town
- Wales University Officers' Training Corps (the corps), Bangor unit, the city
The qualifying private schools are Treffos school, Llansadwrn, the island; Rydal Penrhos Prep school in the town; St Gerard's, the city and St David's College, the town.
The applicable joint service publication confirms that "disbursement of the stipend is limited to those areas where instruction in the public system is on a dual-language or non-English foundation".
People stationed elsewhere in the multiple services of the armed forces - the Army, the naval service and the Royal Air Force - can claim a educational continuity benefit which contributes towards boarding and/or school charges up to a maximum rate, with a minimum parental contribution of 10% for each qualifying student.
Welsh Conservative Senedd member the politician said "members of the UK military move around the nation and the world, and the MoD have always tried to guarantee that their children have access to consistency in schooling".
"Although we strongly endorse Welsh-language teaching throughout Wales, it's crucial to recognize there are two official languages in our country, English and Welsh, and municipal authorities and school boards should provide for each."
"Families should always have the choice to select the medium in which their children are instructed."
The Welsh party's education spokesperson Cefin Campbell MS stated "not only is this a total misuse of funding, it is a slight to our tongue".
"I cannot think of any justifiable cause to be spending such money annually, on blocking youth living in Wales from having the opportunity to learn the Welsh language."
"Bilingualism enhances experience and aids the growth of youth, but the UK government is obviously blind to this."
"These funds is a perfect example of the attitude of the Westminster parties regarding Wales and the Welsh language - namely unawareness and insults."
