Comment, analysis, news

The armed forces and special schools

Concerns we have raised with the Scottish Parliament about armed forces activities in special schools have been picked up by The Daily Record newspaper.

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My thoughts exactly: UK army accused of dictating soldiers’ press statements

The army has been accused of manipulating teenage soldiers by spoonfeeding them identikit quotes to be used in local and regional newspaper articles extolling life in the military.

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UK military school audit reveals teenage recruits at risk

Drive to fast-track late joiners at AFC Harrogate led to issues including skewing staff/student ratios in dangerous activities.

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British army ads targeting ‘stressed and vulnerable’ teenagers

The British army has targeted recruitment material at “stressed and vulnerable” 16-year-olds via social media on and around GCSE results day, the Guardian can reveal.

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News coverage of the Scottish Parliament’s report on armed forces visits to schools

With the publication of the Scottish Parliament's Public Petitions Committee report on our petition on armed forces visits to schools, there has been substantial coverage in the news.

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Ministry of Defence misleading public over armed forces visits to schools

With the publication of the Scottish Parliament's Public Petitions Committee report on our petition on armed forces visits to schools, there has been substantial coverage in the news (see our round-up). The Ministry of Defence have said a number of things in response that are very disputable – this blog outlines some of the evidence.

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Scottish Parliament recognises child rights and welfare concerns around armed forces activities in schools

Quakers in Scotland and ForcesWatch welcome the recommendations made in a report from the Scottish Parliament about armed forces activities in schools.

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Resisting militarisation in Leicester

We interviewed poet and campaigner Ambrose Musiyiwa for Peace News on militarisation in Leicester and how local people are acting to resist militarism.

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Ethics not (military) ethos

Former education minister Robert Goodwill has been tasked with drawing up a report for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on the benefits of ‘military ethos’ in schools. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has suggested this could include ‘military academies’ in disadvantaged areas. We consider the ethics of imposing an ethos from outside of education, especially when it serves interests at odds with the best interests of young people.

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‘Testing the Argument’: MSPs call for report into military visits in Scotland’s schools

Members of the Scottish Parliament have agreed to produce a report into military visits in Scotland’s schools in a response to our petition on the issue.

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