About us
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DCS has responsibility for the functions, in support of service families related to education and care, previously undertaken by Defence Children and Young People (DCYP).
DCS is a Defence delivery organisation, subordinated under Army Regional Command. DCS’ function is to support Service children and their Service families with educational needs.
DCS provides a single focus for all issues related to Service children and young people, providing high-quality education at 22 schools and settings in locations around the world. DCS also directly supports Service families, providing advice on a wide range of educational matters both overseas and in the UK, delivered by specialist education and advisory teams.
We have been supporting service children and young people since 1796. Keep reading to learn more about our long history:
- Duke of York (Frederick Augustus, second son of King George III) encouraged Commanding Officers to set up a system of regimental schools paid for out of regimental funds.
- General Order was given for all Commanders to establish regimental schools under the direction of sergeant school masters.
- The first schools were open to both the sons and daughters of serving soldiers, who were taught to read, write and given some basic arithmetic.
- Corps of Army Schoolmasters was formed.
- Commissioned officers served as inspectors and headmasters.
- Took leadership of Army Schoolmistresses in 1848 – becoming Queen’s Army of Schoolmistresses 1928.
- Responsible for the training of teachers, to teach soldiers’ children.
- British Families Education Service (BFES) was formed.
- The establishment of the British Army on the Rhine as part of the Allied occupation of Germany, personnel were allowed to take their families on postings through “Operation Union”.
- Renamed Service Children’s Education Authority (SCEA).
- SCEA was headed by a Military Controller.
- Renamed Service Children’s Schools (SCS).
- In North-West Europe, schools were operated by Service Children’s Schools (SCS-NWE).
- In 1996 SCEA and SCSNWE combined to become Service Children’s Education (SCE).
- The Directorate Children and Young People (DCYP) was established.
Images provided by: BFES-SCE Association Website
