MoD Spends Large Sums on Independent Schools to Bypass Welsh Education
The MoD allocates around one million pounds annually to send children to private schools in northern Wales because "public schools provide some or all lessons in the Welsh language".
It paid £1,019,000 in educational stipend in north Wales for eighty-three students of military families in 2024-2025, and nearly one million pounds for 79 children in the previous year under a established practice.
A spokesperson stated "military families' children can face regular relocations" and the stipend "seeks to reduce disruption to their schooling".
Plaid Cymru described it as a "total misuse of funds" and "an insult to our language" while the Conservatives argued families should be able to choose the medium in which their children are taught.
These numbers were acquired following a request under the Freedom of Information Act.
The online portal of RAF Valley on the island informs its workforce, "for those residing and working in northern Wales, where state schools provide various classes in the Welsh tongue, you can opt to enroll your kids to an English-language independent school".
"Provided you are accompanied by your family at your duty station, you can utilize this benefit to cover the expense of tuition fees, field study trips/residential educational courses and regular commuting."
A defense ministry representative told, "the aim of Day School Allowance in North Wales (DSA-NW) is to support military households stationed to the area, where the Welsh tongue is the main language of public schooling".
"As mobility is a part of military career, service children can face frequent moves and from DSA-NW seeks to lessen disruption to their education."
"The MoD acknowledges the sacrifices military members, and their families make, and through the stipend assists with the costs of independent day schooling given in English."
'In Areas With Bilingual or Non-English Instruction'
The allowance includes tuition fees up to a limit of £22,755 a year, £7,585 each semester, and is accessible to personnel residing in the counties of the county, Denbighshire, Gwynedd, Anglesey or the district and serving in these specific locations:
- The military base, Anglesey
- The combined forces alpine training facility, the island
- The joint military mountain unit, Llanrwst
- The university military training program (the corps), Bangor unit, the city
The eligible private schools are Treffos school, the village, Anglesey; Rydal Penrhos Prep school in the town; St Gerard's school, Bangor and St David's College, Llandudno.
The applicable military policy document confirms that "payment of the allowance is restricted to those regions where instruction in the state sector is on a dual-language or non-English foundation".
People serving in other locations in the three branches of the armed forces - the ground forces, the naval service and the Royal Air Force - can claim a continuity of education allowance which contributes towards residential and/or tuition fees up to a maximum rate, with a minimum parental contribution of ten percent for each qualifying student.
Tory assembly representative Natasha Asghar said "personnel of the UK military move around the nation and the world, and the MoD has always sought to guarantee that their children have access to consistency in schooling".
"While we fully support Welsh-language teaching throughout Wales, it's important to remember there are dual recognized tongues in our country, English and Welsh, and local councils and education authorities should accommodate each."
"Parents should always have the choice to select the medium in which their children are taught."
The Welsh party's learning representative Cefin Campbell MS said "not just is this a total misuse of money, it is an insult to our tongue".
"I cannot think of any valid reason to be allocating these funds every year, on blocking youth living in Wales from having the opportunity to acquire the Welsh language."
"Dual-language ability enriches experience and supports the development of youth, but the UK government is clearly unaware to this."
"These funds is a perfect example of the approach of the Westminster parties regarding Wales and the Welsh language - namely ignorance and insults."