Overseas education
If you are offered an overseas assignment, you will have to look carefully into the overseas education available for your children. It is essential that your children are registered on JPA, and that you contact the Overseas Education and Supportability Team (OEST) for advice. This is especially important if you have a child with an additional need or disability.
The type and quality of education available will differ from country to country and often from one part of a country to another. Remember that what is right for one child is not necessarily right for another. The age and ability of your child will have an effect on your decision. The opportunity for a child to be educated in a different system and different culture can be attractive, but you will have to weigh up carefully the advantages and disadvantages.
General information
Education provision overseas can be roughly divided into the following types, not all of which will be available in every location:
- MOD schools;
- English speaking schools (these may be local state schools, or in some cases independent day schools);
- Non-English-speaking schools (local state schools, with an allowance to help your child to learn the local language);
- International schools (independent, usually English-speaking schools).
Education overseas for service children – GOV.UK is a good starting point for more information about overseas options.
This includes information about Educational Supportability. All children aged 0 to 18 years of age require confirmation of educational supportability before accompanying their parent on an overseas assignment.
Please read here for information on Assessment of support needs for accompanied overseas assignments.
Please also see JSP 342 which provides policy and guidance for the education of service children overseas.
If you decide that there is no suitable schooling for your child at the overseas location you might want to consider boarding in the UK. The Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) is available for eligible Service personnel to help them with the cost of boarding education.
MOD Schools and MOD Virtual School
MOD Schools is part of the Defence Children Services (DCS – formerly DCYP). MOD schools and settings provide education to the dependent children of Service personnel and MOD entitled civilians, entitled contractors and fee payers. MOD schools are predominantly overseas, with one school in Scotland.
MOD Virtual School (MODVS), part of Defence Children Services (DCS), looks after the safety, welfare and education of military children who live overseas. Unlike a traditional school, it does not provide education, nor does it have a building. It is a virtual service which holds responsibility for overseeing the education of children who live overseas in an area that does not have a DCS School (excluding USA, Australia and New Zealand at present) or who are electively home educated. Contact the MOD Virtual School Headteacher at: RC-DCS-HQ-MODVS@mod.gov.uk.
Unaccompanied Minors Flights
Different airlines have different policies regarding unaccompanied minors’ flights. To understand an airline’s specific unaccompanied minors’ policy, have a look on their website.
If you cannot find an airline to book an unaccompanied minors flight, MOD policy will fund return flights for one parent to collect their children. Please refer to the following sections in JSP 752 for details:
- 10.0222: Locations where no Airline Offers an Unaccompanied Minors (UNMIN) Service to/from/within the UK
- 10.0223: Reimbursement of any Costs Charged by Civilian Airlines for the Moving of Unaccompanied Minors (UNMINS)