For many decades the Royal Caledonian Schools Trust gave the children of armed forces personnel the opportunity of an uninterrupted education while their parents moved around the world.  But today a disrupted education still blights the lives and futures of many such children.

 A Service family's posting usually lasts for no more than three years, often less.  Each transfer requires the children to change schools and results in massive disruption to their education and social learning.  During the eight years of their primary education alone, Service children average at least three changes of school.

And there are resource problems for their schools.  When parents are likely to be sent on temporary assignments for long periods – to Iraq for instance – they aren't available to organise the fund-raising activities on which many schools rely to supplement their budget and provide equipment like books and computers.

In recent months we have been working with Colinton Primary School and Edinburgh University to establish the best ways of helping these children. Colinton's school roll consists of 90% army children while Leuchars Primary in Fife has 85% RAF children. With the help of the school staff we have devised a project where we can work with the parents and teachers.

So far the project is:

Colinton School was the starting point.  We have begun to expand the project to other schools with high percentages of service children, and are now working with John Logie Baird Primary School in Helensburgh.  This school has a large proportion of Navy and Army children. 

If you have any ideas or comments about this project or want more information please contact us by clicking on royal caley , phoning us on 01923 215350, faxing us on 01923 215354 or by writing to us at Unit 75 WENTA Business Park, Colne Way, Watford, Herts WD24 7ND.  We look forward to hearing from you.

About Royal Caledonian Schools Trust:

Royal Caledonian Schools Trust - The Caley, as it's affectionately known, was established in 1815 to help educate the sons and daughters of Scots who were serving, or who had served, in the armed forces, and the children of poor Scots in London.

Today, almost two hundred years later, the work continues in a way, which, we believe still meets our founders' intentions.

We help with educational grants for school clothing, school trips, school fees and help with living expenses for those in further or higher education.

Our founders set no age limit so the Caley can also help with those who need a second educational chance.

The Caley also sponsors projects that benefit groups or qualifying students, and awards scholarships to help those who decide to use a gap year to help less fortunate communities.

Further Information:

> Royal Caledonian Schools Trust  

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