MoD spends millions on private schools to avoid Welsh language

October 6, 2025

MoD spends millions on private schools to avoid Welsh language

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) spends around £1m a year sending children to private schools in north Wales because "state schools teach some or all lessons in the Welsh language".

It paid £1,019,000 in day school allowance in north Wales for 83 children of service personnel in 2024-2025, and £942,000 for 79 children in 2023-2024 under a longstanding practice.

A spokesperson said "service children can face frequent moves" and the allowance "aims to minimise disruption to their education".

Plaid Cymru called it a "complete waste of money" and "an insult to our language" while the Conservatives said parents should be able to choose the language in which their children are taught.

The figures were obtained following a BBC Wales request under the Freedom of Information Act.

The website of RAF Valley on Anglesey tells its workforce, "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."

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.