Future of Scots school for services children is assured

Published on Tuesday 14 June 2011 18:29

THE government has guaranteed the future of the "unique" school where children of Scottish military service personnel are taught, ending speculation that it could become a victim of defence cuts.

On the day MPs were voting to support legislation to create a military covenant, defence minister Andrew Robathan yesterday confirmed that the Queen Victoria School (QVS) in Dunblane, which is independent of the state system and funded by the Ministry of Defence, would continue to play a part in providing support for the families of service personnel.

Mr Robathan also hinted that the school, which has been co-educational since 1996 and has an internationally recognised pipe band, could be expanded using some of the money currently spent sending children to private, fee-paying schools.

Before the debate on the Armed Forces Bill began in the Commons, Stirling Labour MP Anne McGuire sought assurances about the school.

She made it clear she wanted the MoD's commitment to its future put on the record.

Ms McGuire pointed out that the school had been created by Royal Warrant in 1908 after funds had been raised by people in Scotland for the education of sons of non-officer ranks.

The warrant had been drafted to state that the Ministry of War, later the MoD, would have to fund it "in perpetuity".

Despite this, there had been serious concerns that it might be axed as the MoD attempts to make some 38 billion of savings.

"It is an interesting piece of drafting," she said. "It seeks to make the warrant watertight against future pressures, financial or otherwise."

She went on to say that the school was continuing in its support role by caring for the children of those badly injured serving their country, and pressed the minister on whether the "contribution of the school to the military covenant is recognised by the MoD" and is not simply seen as "an anachronism of a bygone age" as it was branded by the defence select committee five years ago.

In response, Mr Robathan made clear that the school was part of the MoD's future plans.

"The school has a long and proud history," he said."The first question she (Mrs McGuire] asked was 'do we value QVS's role in proving the military covenant?' Yes we certainly do."

He said that the main change being considered was "purely administrative", by transferring responsibility for it to the Service Children's Education Authority within the MoD, a body that looks after the education of service children abroad.

He said that 2 million had been spent in the past two years on improving buildings and there was a possibility money could be used from the continuity education allowance to expand the school because, while expansion "is not cost free", it was "cheaper" than paying for pupils to go to fee- paying independent schools.

The government was last night also expected to come under pressure over key parts of its Armed Forces Bill, which will include the new covenant.

The coalition has been criticised for failing to enshrine new rights in law and only extending them to England because of problems crossing over with devolved administrations.

However, one of the main pressure points was due to come over an amendment from Dunfermline and West Fife MP Thomas Docherty to give MPs a vote on base closures, with coalition MPs who have at-risk bases in their constituencies pressed to break ranks and oppose the government.