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Military Out Of Schools

The armed forces visit thousands of UK schools each year, offering presentation teams, free resources such as lessons plans and military-led activities and other activities that lead to recruitment. The Department for Education are futher integrating military-led activities into Britian's education system as 'military ethos' is presented as a solution to educational problems. The Government's initiatives include the expansion of cadet forces within state schools and military-led provison for young people who are deemed to be failing. Other developments could see military academies and free schools run exclusively by ex-forces personnel or sponsored by the MoD and the armed forces. Should the armed forces by given access to children within schools and colleges? Is the military's agenda and the development of a 'military ethos' appropriate within education?

Join the debate!

ForcesWatch has organised a series of debates around the UK on the theme of 'Questioning the presence of the military in education' with a range of speakers including academics, education professionals, policy makers, forces veterans, politicians and others. The next event is in London on 7 May 2013. See here for details.

Help fund a documentary on Young People & the Military

ForcesWatch have commissioned the journalists' charity Headliners to work with young people aged 8-18 years old to make a short film about the way the military seeks to engage with them: in schools, through cadet forces and public events such as Armed Forces Day, on TV and online, and through video games and toys. The military spend millions each year on attracting young people – this film is a chance for young people to say what they think about that.

Help us raise £3414 by 10th May - pledge a donation at WeFund.com or see more information here

ForcesWatch briefings

Questioning the presence of armed forces in schools: a ForcesWatch briefing for parents, students and teachers concerned with military activities in their school. Download

Military activity in UK schools, September 2012 Download

Expanding the Cadets and 'Military Ethos' in UK Schools Download

Read more on our military out of schools work

Share your news

Let us know of any activities you are working on or in your area about military activity in schools or challenging militarism. We can help spread the word.

Materials for use in schools

Take a look at education resources for materials for use in schools that look at things from a different perspective.

More info

Find out more about the Military Out of Schools project including ForcesWatch materials for challenging the armed forces in education

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Join us for a discussion on the role of the armed forces in mainstream education. Not only do the armed forces visit thousands of schools each year but the military is becoming more integrated into Britain's education system with 'military ethos' presented as a solution to educational problems,

We invite you to come and discuss the issues and whether it is appropriate for the military to engage with young people in schools and colleges.

Next event: London, Tuesday 7 May 2013, 7pm

Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London Venue details and map here
With Victoria Basham (University of Exeter), Tom Burkard (Centre for Policy Studies), Ben Griffin (ex-SAS and founder of Veterans for Peace) and others.
Chaired by Alex Kelly (The Access Project)

See more here

Petition to stop army recruiting activities in schools in Wales

May 2012

"We call on the National Assembly to urge the Welsh Government to recommend that the armed forces should not go into schools to recruit.

Britain is the only country in the European Union that allows a military presence in its schools. Britain is the only country of the 27 European Union countries to recruit 16-year-old children to the armed forces. The armed forces target their recruitment in schools in the most deprived areas of Wales."