Choosing a school as an Armed Forces family isn't simply an educational decision. Postings, mobility, family life, boarding, continuity and CEA can all be part of the equation.
I understand those decisions because I've made them too.
I offer practical, independent support to help Forces families understand their options and find schools that work for both the child and the realities of Service life.
Independent education that works with military life
When home can change, school can become the constant
For many families, choosing a school starts with where they live. For Service families, it can be the other way around.
A posting may change the commute, the country or even the continent. That can make continuity of education particularly important, but stability alone isn't enough. Your child still needs a school where they are known, supported, challenged and happy.
The right choice has to work on two levels: it has to be right for your child, and workable for your family.
02
LIFE BEYOND THE SCHOOL DAY
For a boarding child, evenings and weekends matter. Who stays in? What happens on Sundays? How are exeats managed? Does boarding still feel like home when other pupils have gone home?
01
WHEREVER HOME IS
A school may need to remain workable through future postings, changes of location and times when getting home isn't straightforward.
03
MAKING IT WORK
CEA, travel, transport, additional costs and distance from family aren't footnotes. They can determine whether an excellent school actually works in practice.
Boarding shouldn't simply make Service life work. It needs to work for the child who will actually be boarding.
I know this journey from the inside
I'm part of a serving military family, and I've made many of these decisions for my own children.
I've navigated postings and moves, CEA, boarding and the question of how to give a child educational stability when family life itself may need to move. I also know that what works beautifully for one child may be completely wrong for another.
That experience shapes the way I work with Forces families. I understand the practical questions, but I never lose sight of the child at the centre of them.
Service life may
shape the search.
Your child should
shape the choice.
For many Service families, boarding can provide valuable continuity of education when postings mean that home may move. Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) can help make that possible.
But eligibility for CEA is only one part of the decision. The bigger question is whether boarding is right for your child, and which school can provide the academic, pastoral and boarding environment in which they will thrive.
I can help you explore the options, understand the differences between schools and look beyond the prospectus at the details that matter in real family life.
Considering boarding and CEA?
BOARDING CULTURE
What is boarding actually like? How many pupils remain at weekends, and does the school have a genuine seven-day community?
WEEKENDS & EXEATS
What happens when other pupils go home? How frequently are exeats required, and will that work if you're posted overseas?
TRAVEL & PRACTICALITIES
Transport, airports, guardianship where relevant, journey times and additional costs all need considering alongside the school itself.
YOUR CHILD
Is boarding right for them? Their personality, independence, additional needs, friendships and feelings about boarding matter more than whether the arrangement works neatly on paper.
A note on CEA: McFry can help families consider school choices alongside CEA and the practical realities of Service life. Eligibility and entitlement should always be confirmed through the appropriate Service channels.
Some families come to me at the very beginning, unsure whether boarding is even the right choice. Others already have schools in mind and want an independent view before making a decision.
There's no required starting point. We'll begin with where you are now and work out what support would be most useful.
Wherever you are in the process
01 — JUST STARTING OUT?
We'll talk through your child, your circumstances and what you're hoping school could provide. I can help you understand the options and identify schools worth exploring.
02 — ALREADY HAVE A SHORTLIST?
I'll help you look critically at your options, compare the things that really matter and identify the questions you need to ask before making a decision.
03 — READY TO MOVE FORWARD?
I can support you with school conversations, visits and applications, helping you navigate the process through to placement.
You don't need to know which school you want.
You just need to know your child.
Let's find the school that works for your family
Whether you're considering boarding for the first time, preparing for a future posting or already weighing up particular schools, you don't have to navigate the decision alone.
Tell me a little about your child and your circumstances, and we'll start from there.