MoD claims request for sensitive student data to aid Army recruitment an “error”
09/06/2015
'The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been blocked from obtaining highly sensitive personal data about school and college students, which had ostensibly been sought in order to help “target its messaging” around military careers...'
Schools Week ; The Daily Mail
Why recent developments in character education indicate there’s no need for a military ethos
09/06/2015ForcesWatch comment
The Department for Education has given out its £3.5 million ‘Character Awards’ and its £3.5 million Character Education grants, both championed by Secretary of State for Education Nicky Morgan, to 27 schools and youth organisations in England, and 14 youth projects, respectively. Despite the DfE's heralding of 'military ethos' as an excellent means of developing character, none of those awarded mention military-style activities in their descriptions (see here and here).
‘Targeted messaging’ in schools about armed forces careers not for the ‘well-being’ of students
05/06/2015
Schools Week are today reporting that the Ministry of Defence requested access to the National Pupil Database. The request was for the most sensitive pupil data. The request was refused by the Department for Education. The evidence is in that the armed forces already visit schools for recruitment purposes so we ask why, if 'targeted messaging' in schools about armed forces careers is not for the 'well-being' of students, are they allowed to visit schools with their recruitment agenda at all?
ForcesWatch Comment
‘Targeted messaging’ in schools about armed forces careers not for the ‘well-being’ of students
05/06/2015
Schools Week today report that the Ministry of Defence requested access to the National Pupil Database. The request was for the most sensitive pupil data and was refused by the Department for Education. There is substantial evidence that the armed forces already engage with schools for recruitment purposes so we ask why, if 'targeted messaging' in schools about armed forces careers is not for the 'well-being' of students, are they allowed to visit schools - and run military activities such as cadets in them - at all?
ForcesWatch Comment
Arms companies are making money by taking over UK schools
03/06/2015
Europe's largest arms manufacturer, BAE Systems, has applied to sponsor the failing Furness Academy. The reason is profit.
Open Democracy
Celebrate or commemorate? The Department for Education and VE Day
07/05/2015
The DfE's recent communication to schools about the 70th anniversary of VE Day on 8 May suggests that schools 'will want to celebrate and commemorate' the event. This is the third set of learning materials promoted by the DfE within the past year around military issues. Do 'celebrations' around remembrance events inevitably drown out the more cautious messages about the price of victory?
ForcesWatch Comment
Questions for general election candidates about the military and young people
22/04/2015
Here we provide two sample questions that you can ask candidates as well as key points and further sources of information. You can find your candidates contact details using https://yournextmp.com/. Let us know if you get any responses!
ForcesWatch Comment
Quakers go to war over ‘bellicose’ school pack that promotes ‘pro-military values’
03/03/2015
The Government has been accused of helping indoctrinate children with pro-military values through a new schools pack aimed at promoting the armed forces.
The Independent
Government accused of military propaganda in the classroom
27/02/2015
The Government's material for schools about the armed forces has been criticised today by the human rights group ForcesWatch and Quakers in Britain.
ForcesWatch / Quakers in Britain press release
Veterans bring ‘military ethos’ to schools
27/01/2015
Growing number of organisations employ ex-servicemen and women to work in schools helping children develop ‘character’
The Guardian