Stonyhurst reaffirms pledge to support the Armed Forces community

On Armed Forces Day, Saturday 24th June, Stonyhurst announced that it signed the Armed Forces Covenant, a promise that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces of the Crown, and their families, are treated with fairness and respect in their communities, economy, and society for which they serve with their lives.

By signing the Covenant, Stonyhurst is reinforcing its commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community by continuing to welcome forces families, fostering relationships between the school and the Armed Forces, and supporting employment opportunities for veterans, service spouses and partners.

In supporting those who serve, have served, and their families, and the value they bring to our community, Stonyhurst will seek to uphold the principles of the Covenant by:

• promoting that it is a military friendly organisation;
• enabling pupil bursaries to qualifying members of the Armed Forces community subject to standard procedures; supporting Armed Forces families throughout their time at Stonyhurst, particularly before, during and after a parent’s deployment
• supporting the employment of veterans, recognising military skills and qualifications in our recruitment and selection-process;
• striving to support the employment of Service spouses and partners; offering a degree of flexibility in granting leave for Service spouses and partners before, during and after a partner’s deployment;
• supporting our employees who are members of the Reserve Forces; supporting any mobilisations and deployment; actively encouraging members of staff to become Reservists;
• supporting our employees who are volunteer leaders in military cadet organisations, granting additional leave to attend annual training camps and courses; actively encouraging members of staff to become volunteer leaders in cadet organisations; supporting local military cadet units; recognising the benefits of employing cadets/ex-cadets within the workforce
• actively supporting Armed Forces Day, Reserves Day, the Poppy Appeal Day and Remembrance activities.

Stonyhurst has a long and proud history of welcoming Forces Families and it recognises that forces life can disrupt the continuity of education for children and that a long-term, stable environment provides more opportunities to develop all-round potential. The school has one of the most generous fee support packages of any school, with families in receipt of the Continuous Education Allowance (CEA) paying no more than 10% of fees.

Stonyhurst’s Chair of Govenors, Anthony Chitnis, said: "Stonyhurst proudly supports Forces Families, and all who have served around the world. Signing the Covenant is particularly relevant to Stonyhurst given the school's community of Armed Forces families, and established Combined Cadet Force which shapes many of our young people. The Armed Forces Covenant is a public pledge of support for those that serve, and I am delighted to be the signatory to Stonyhurst’s new Covenant."

Stonyhurst supports those who wish to pursue careers in the forces through its Combined Cadet Force (CCF) which was established in 1900 and is led by a team of officers under a Major assigned to the school. It meets weekly and comprises platoons named after Stonyhurst's seven Victoria Cross winners. Pupils join the CCF in Lower Grammar (Year 9) with opportunities for leadership positions in their senior years. Pupils are taught the core skills that the army provides; integrity, loyalty, leadership, and discipline.

Stonyhurst is proud to sign the Armed Forces Covenant, standing alongside over 10,000 organisations including businesses and charities nationwide who recognise the sacrifices serving personnel make as ‘men and women for others’.