Children of service personnel

The Armed Forces Covenant was published in May 2011 and is a promise between the UK Government/nation and the Armed Forces.  It exists to ensure that the Armed Forces community should not face disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services; and that special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have been injured or bereaved.  

New Decade, New Approach set out specific UK Government commitments to “further incorporate” the Armed Forces Covenant into law and support full implementation.

With regard to Northern Ireland, the subsequent Armed Forces Act 2021, placed a legal duty on a specified person or body when exercising a relevant function to have due regard to:

• the unique obligations of, and sacrifices made by, the armed forces;
• the principle that it is desirable to remove disadvantages arising for service people from membership, or former membership, of the armed forces, and
• the principle that special provision for service people may be justified by the effects on such people of membership, or former membership, of the armed forces.

The Act specified the Education Authority (EA) and the Board of Governors of a grant-aided school as being specified bodies in Northern Ireland that are subject to the new duty.

Following the Act, the Statutory Armed Forces Covenant Duty came into force on 22 November 2022. The Duty was supported by Statutory Guidance to help in‑scope bodies understand what is required of them under the new Covenant Duty. From an education perspective, this includes functions relating to:

• admissions;
• educational attainment and curriculum;
• child wellbeing;
• transport;
• attendance; and
• additional needs support.

In November 2022, the Department issued the Statutory Guidance on the Armed Forces Covenant Duty to all Northern Ireland schools, EOTAS centres and the EA.How schools can help

School staff understand the concerns of Services children and will help and support them to settle into their new school, make new friends and, in some cases, help them adapt to a different curriculum or even a new language.

Schools who have Services children enrolled may be entitled to receive a small amount of additional funding.

It is therefore helpful for you to inform the school if you are a member of the Armed Forces, so your child and the school can receive adequate support.