National Transitions Officer update #7
Message: Edinburgh Garrison
I am married to a teacher and, at the time of writing, I am very aware how challenging it is for teaching staff, both in terms of virtual delivery and the concerns many teachers have for the wellbeing of more vulnerable pupils.
This must have been an exquisitely testing period for staff and parents, and I am very aware that, in the current crisis, the Forces Community cannot claim the monopoly on demanding family circumstances. The Armed Forces have remained active throughout the crisis, with all Regular Army Units in Scotland either deploying overseas on operations or on very high readiness commitments in 2021 all of which come with a training and preparation bill that has to be met against significant COVID friction.
On top of all this, we are very proud to be supporting the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland; many hundreds of Armed Forces personnel in Scotland have joined a very different sort of battle to control and overcome the virus. Most Armed Forces personnel, whatever military activity they are engaged in, will be Category 2 Key Workers.
We recognise that home schooling is an emotionally charged issue for all families with school age children in Scotland and that many families are struggling to educate their children at home; we know that we cannot demand places for Armed Forces children in schools as an automatic right.
When we engage with a request for in school support for a military key worker, you should be assured that we have already given such cases significant scrutiny. We will only bring such cases to you if we believe there is a very clear and urgent justification.
So far, where Local Authorities have become involved in decisions affecting Armed Forces children in Scottish Schools, their response has been pragmatic and sensitive. I am enormously grateful for your continuing support with this issue, which ensures that our people can continue to be available whenever the Nation needs us, whatever the circumstances and no matter how bad things get.
That said, I think we’re all hoping that soon things will start to get better!
Hugo
Lt Col HIM Clark MBE SCOTS,
Edinburgh Garrison Commander, The Castle, Edinburgh EH1 2YT