The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has come under fire after it was revealed that more than £1 million of public funds are being spent each year to send the children of service personnel to private schools in north Wales. The reason? State schools in the region teach some or all lessons in the Welsh language—a practice that, according to the MoD, poses a unique challenge for military families constantly on the move.
Figures obtained by BBC Wales through a Freedom of Information request show that in the 2024-2025 academic year alone, the MoD paid £1,019,000 in what’s known as the Day School Allowance in North Wales (DSA-NW) for 83 children. The previous year, £942,000 was allocated for 79 children under the same scheme. The allowance is designed to cover tuition fees up to a maximum of £22,755 per year—£7,585 per term—at qualifying English-language independent schools, as well as costs for field study trips, residential educational courses, and daily transport.
The policy applies to service personnel stationed at several key military establishments in the region, including RAF Valley on Anglesey, the Joint Services Mountain Training Centre (also on Anglesey), the Joint Services Mountain Training Wing in Llanrwst, and the Wales University Officers' Training Corps (UOTC) Bangor detachment in Caernarfon. Eligible families must live within the counties of Conwy, Denbighshire, Gwynedd, Anglesey, or Flintshire.
On the surface, the allowance is intended to minimize disruption for children in military families, who often experience frequent relocations. An MoD spokesperson told the BBC, “The purpose of Day School Allowance in North Wales (DSA-NW) is to assist service families posted to the region, where Welsh is the primary medium of local state education. As mobility is a part of service life, service children can face frequent moves and DSA-NW aims to minimise disruption to their education. The MoD supports the sacrifices service personnel, and their families make, and DSA-NW assists with the costs of independent day schooling given in English.”
The RAF Valley website echoes this sentiment, stating, “If you live and serve in north Wales, where state schools teach some or all lessons in the Welsh language, you may choose to send your children to an English-language independent school. Provided you are accompanied by your family at your duty station, you can use this allowance to cover the cost of tuition fees, field study trips/residential educational courses and daily transport.”
However, the revelation has ignited a fierce political debate in Wales, highlighting deep-seated tensions over language, identity, and the use of public funds. Plaid Cymru, the Welsh nationalist party, has been especially vocal in its criticism. Cefin Campbell MS, Plaid Cymru’s education spokesperson, lambasted the allowance, stating, “Not only is this a complete waste of money, it is an insult to our language. I cannot think of any valid reason to be spending such money every year, on preventing young people living in Wales from having the opportunity to learn the Welsh language. Bilingualism enriches life and supports the development of young people, but the UK government is clearly blind to this. This money is a perfect example of the attitude of the Westminster parties towards Wales and the Welsh language—namely ignorance and insults.”
Plaid Cymru’s argument is rooted in the belief that learning Welsh is not only a matter of cultural pride but also a valuable skill that enriches children’s lives and contributes to the preservation and revitalization of the language. The party contends that the MoD’s policy undermines these efforts and sends a message of disregard for Welsh identity.
On the other side of the debate, the Welsh Conservatives have defended the right of military families to choose the language of instruction for their children. Natasha Asghar, a Conservative Senedd member, told the BBC, “Members of the British armed forces move around the country and the world, and the MoD have always tried to ensure that their children have access to consistency in education. While we fully support Welsh-medium education across Wales, it’s important to remember there are two official languages in our country, English and Welsh, and local councils and education authorities should provide for both. Parents should always have the option to choose the medium in which their children are taught.”
This perspective emphasizes parental choice and educational continuity, particularly for families who may be posted to different parts of the UK or abroad over the course of a military career. The Conservatives argue that forcing children to switch languages mid-way through their schooling could be detrimental to their academic progress and emotional well-being.
The MoD’s policy is not entirely unique to north Wales. Across the UK, service families posted to other areas with different educational challenges can claim a continuity of education allowance, which contributes towards boarding and/or tuition fees up to a maximum rate, with a minimum parental contribution of 10% for each eligible child. However, the DSA-NW is specifically limited to regions in Wales where state sector teaching is bilingual or conducted in a non-English medium.
For some, the policy raises broader questions about the relationship between the UK government and the devolved Welsh administration, especially when it comes to respecting and promoting the Welsh language. The Welsh government has long championed bilingual education as a cornerstone of national identity, with many state schools in north Wales delivering lessons in Welsh or through a bilingual model.
The debate also touches on the practical realities faced by military families. With frequent relocations an unavoidable part of service life, ensuring educational stability for children becomes a significant concern. The MoD’s allowance seeks to address this, but at a cost that some see as excessive and others view as essential support.
There are currently four qualifying private schools in north west Wales that can receive students under the DSA-NW scheme. Payment of the allowance is strictly limited to areas where teaching in the state sector is on a bilingual or non-English basis. According to official MoD guidance, “payment of the allowance is limited to those areas where teaching in the state sector is on a bilingual or non-English basis.”
As the controversy continues, both sides remain steadfast in their positions. For Plaid Cymru and its supporters, the expenditure is a symbol of Westminster’s lack of understanding and respect for Welsh culture. For the Conservatives and many military families, it is a necessary measure to ensure children are not disadvantaged by the demands of service life.
With the debate showing no signs of abating, the issue has become a lightning rod for broader discussions about language, identity, and the allocation of public resources in a devolved United Kingdom. The MoD, for its part, maintains that the allowance is about supporting families who already make significant sacrifices in service to the country—a position that, depending on one’s perspective, is either entirely reasonable or deeply problematic.
For now, the policy remains in place, continuing to stir passions on both sides of the linguistic divide in Wales.
