Conservative Minister Announces New Funding for Military Ethos Projects

Elizabeth Truss MP

Projects run by former armed forces personnel are to receive a further £4.8 million after research showed they were turning around the lives of thousands of young people.

Conservative Education Minister Elizabeth Truss MP announced today that 6 projects, including 2 new charities the Prince’s Trust and CVQO, will receive the funding to build on previous work and support the government’s commitment to drive up education standards.

The new money comes after evidence and feedback from some of the 300 schools where 8,000 pupils took part.  They said the projects had a hugely positive impact on improving engagement and attainment among the most disengaged children.

A study by Swansea University of Commando Joe’s, a Manchester-based project which provides trained mentors and activities for schools in some of the most deprived areas in the UK, found 56% of pupils taking part improved their maths grade while 70% showed improvement in writing.

Research and school feedback on the 3 other projects: Challenger Troop in Kent, Knowsley Skills Academy in Merseyside and SkillForce in Newcastle were also positive.

Mrs Truss, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education and Childcare, said, “The lives of thousands of disengaged children have been turned around thanks to these projects which instil our wonderful armed forces’ values of hard work and discipline.  That is why we are increasing the funding going to these important projects – so that even more children can benefit from the military ethos.”

The projects instil teamwork, discipline and leadership in pupils through mentoring, outward bound activities and other group exercises focused on improving attainment and behaviour.

Activities include: • one-to-one mentoring skills to help address potential behaviour issues and keep pupils committed to their education • military-style obstacle courses to engage and motivate hard-to-reach pupils and help them understand how to transfer the elements which helped them succeed into the classroom • a mix of indoor and outdoor team-building exercises with an educational focus to encourage discipline, leadership, teamwork and good behaviour • working with schools and other agencies to re-integrate pupils who are not in education, employment or training and prepare them for post-16 courses or jobs • helping primary school children in their transition to secondary school through building their self-confidence

Grants were awarded in August 2012 to 4 organisations to deliver programmes through re-engagement with education and early intervention.  More than 300 primary schools, secondary schools and pupil referral units are now being served by these providers with more than 8,000 of the most challenging pupils already taking part.