Data

Why we capture data on Service children

Data is the key to understanding the impact of an Armed Forces lifestyle on Service children
Schools can be better prepared to support their Service children
Comparisons can be made on attainment levels between Service and non-Service children
Patterns in school absence can be identified
Local authorities can prepare to support Service children with their mental health and wellbeing needs
Agencies can provide support and identify where there are gaps in provision
Resources can be targeted to support specific needs in different geographical locations
Further research can be conducted with an inclusive group of participants.

Welsh Governments definition of a Service child:

A ‘Service child’ has parent(s) or person(s) exercising parental responsibility who is/are Service personnel serving:

In HM Regular or Reserve Armed Forces – Royal Navy and Royal Marines; British Army and Royal Air Force, Or
Is an Armed Forces Veteran who has been in Service within the past two years, Or
One of their parents died whilst serving in the Armed Forces and the learner has received a pension under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme or the War Pensions Scheme.

SSCE Cymru also encourages schools to consider identifying children and young people who don’t fit within the above definition but have a link to the Armed Forces.

Service parent/carer survey (2020).

Challenges schools face in supporting Service children: 58% Identifying Service children.

Service parent/carer survey (2020).

Support systems that would be beneficial to Service child(ren): 61% Identifying Service children during the admission process.

I’ve enjoyed going around to lots of places around the world, its adventurous and exciting.

Service children in Wales

SSCE Cymru worked with all 22 local authorities and independent schools in Wales to conduct a data collection activity on Service children. This provided a snapshot of the number and location of Service children in Wales.

Click on the name of a local authority to see the data.

Local authority (LA)	Number of schools in LA	Schools with SC	Number of SC
Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council	30	4	11
Bridgend County Borough Council	61	41	156
Caerphilly County Borough Council	86	21	75
Cardiff Council	132	11	36
Carmarthenshire County Council	113	30	96
Ceredigion County Council	46	12	33
Conwy County Borough Council	61	16	86
Denbighshire County Council	60	19	41
Flintshire County Council	85	7	49
Gwynedd County Council	99	5	22
Isle of Anglesey County Council	49	10	90
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council	29	8	57
Monmouthshire County Council	37	17	91
Neath Port Talbot Council	64	19	57
Newport City Council	57	30	132
Pembrokeshire County Council	68	23	207
Powys County Council	94	39	245
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council	115	27	120
Swansea Council	100	26	69
Torfaen County Borough Council	33	21	47
Vale of Glamorgan Council	57	38	289
Wrexham County Borough Council	73	10	19
	1549	434	2028

* table data correct as of March 2025

Inform SSCE Cymru of the Service children in your school

Help us to gather data on the number and location of Service children in Wales, to ensure schools gain the best possible support for Service children.

Schools can utilise the following template: 4. Templates: Data Collection on the SSCE Cymru Tools section of our website.

Please note by completing this form you will be added to the SSCE Cymru network. SSCE Cymru will share details of any upcoming events, funding, the School Bulletin, resources and support available from the SSCE Cymru team.

Click here to complete our online form

Supporting Service Children in Education Cymru: A Study of Data and Support Provision in Wales (2015)

Commissioned by SSCE Cymru and conducted by the Data Unit Wales, this report involved interviews with schools from across Wales and found that there was very little data on Service children available, indicating a need for more information and guidance to enable schools to collect data and access support.

What the report did identify, based on the most recent census data (2011), is that there are Service families with children up to the age of 16 across all 22 local authorities in Wales. The 2011 census data indicates that there are a minimum of 2,486 children in Wales where the HRP (household reference person) indicated that he or she was in the Armed Forces. This does not include information where the non-HRP(s) is/are in the Armed Forces, or information on veterans or Reservists, or where families with Service children do not live at the same address.

Download the full report here