Forces Children's Education

Children and young people are at the heart of a new law. Described as an ‘historic moment’, Scotland is the first devolved nation in the world to incorporate the United Nations Convention of the Child (UNCRC) into law.

The Act requires public authorities to protect children’s human rights in their decision-making. It also allows for children, young people and their representatives to use the courts to enforce their rights.  

This milestone for children’s rights has been welcomed by Carolyn MacLeod MBE, the National Education and Transitions Officer for the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES).

Carolyn said: “The children and young people of Armed Forces families in our Scottish settings and schools are ‘our children’ and will benefit from this historic step forward with the commencement of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024. The UNCRC is the base standard for children’s rights and we have waited a long time for this. “Forces Children’s Education celebrates this with all children and young people.”

Carolyn is a former teacher who is dedicated to helping educators meet the specific needs of Forces families and improving pupils’ wellbeing and outcomes. Carolyn runs Forces Children’s Education and is also co-author of ‘Rallying to the Flag: A Consolidated Picture of Armed Forces Children’s Education in Scotland’, a report which highlighted the challenges faced by children and young people when a family member is in the Armed Forces.

The Act came into force on 16 July 2024, six months after it gained Royal Assent on 16 January, as we reported earlier this year.

Minister for Children and Young People, Natalie Don, said: “This is a milestone for advancing children’s rights in Scotland, delivered by the Scottish Government. We want all young people to grow up loved, safe and respected and the UNCRC Act aims to do just that. 

“We all have a responsibility to ensure that children and young people are at the heart of decisions that affect them and that they have the confidence and skills to get involved.

“The Scottish Government is proud that we are the first devolved UK nation to incorporate the UNCRC into law, helping to make Scotland the best place in the world to grow up.”   

You can join in with the celebrations across social media with the hashtag #UNCRCScotland. 

Find out more…

Read more about the UNCRC Bill receiving Royal Assent in our January 2024 article.

Further information on UNCRC is available from the Scottish Government.

Our report ‘Rallying to the Flag: A Consolidated Picture of Armed Forces Children’s Education in Scotland’ in conjunction with Edinburgh Napier University is available now.