Scottish Parliament petition: More scrutiny, guidance & consultation on armed forces visits to Scottish schools

27/01/2016

ForcesWatch and Quakers in Scotland have submitted a petition to the Scottish Parliament that calls on the Scottish Government to ensure greater scrutiny, guidance, and consultation with parents/guardians on armed forces visits to schools in Scotland, in order to provide transparency and balance, and in recognition of the unique nature of armed forces careers.

If you get an error message when signing the petition, please email petitions@scottish.parliament.uk with your name and you will be added in.

• The petition can be signed here
• Read the full text of the petition and the background information

The closing date is 20 March 2016.

Background information

The briefings below provide sources and further detail regarding the points raised in the petition:

• Action taken to resolve issues of concern before submitting the petition
• Level and distribution of armed forces visits to schools 
• The recruitment agenda behind the visits
• Students not always encountering a balance of opposing views during the visits
• A lack of transparency, and insufficient consultation, around the visits
• Wider military influence in schools in Scotland aside from armed forces visits

Also see:

• our research report on Armed Forces Visits to Schools in Scotland
• some recent articles and media coverage

Public meetings on armed forces visits to schools in Scotland

ForcesWatch will be speaking alongside veterans and teachers at events to promote our petition to the Scottish Parliament on armed forces visits to schools:

• Edinburgh Quaker Meeting House on Mon 14 March, 7-9pm
• Glasgow STUC on Tues 15 March, 7-9pm
• Aberdeen Quaker Meeting House on Thurs 17 March, 7-9pm

Click on the links above for more information. The events are free but please register to help us plan.

Source: Forces Watch