UK Boarding School for Military Families

Eligible serving personnel may be able to claim the Ministry of Defence’s Continuity of Education Allowance, commonly known as CEA. It is designed to help children receive a consistent education when their parents’ Service commitments could otherwise require them to change schools regularly. 

CEA is not automatically available to every military family and is subject to strict eligibility criteria. Eligibility depends on individual circumstances and MOD rules, so parents should seek advice before accepting a school place or making a financial commitment. 

More information can be found via the below links:  

Continuity of Education Allowance | CEA for RAF families < RAF Families Federation 

Continuity of Education Allowance – Army Families Federation 

Royal Navy Forum 

CEA contributes towards boarding school fees for eligible children of serving personnel in the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Army and Royal Marines. It is normally available from the academic year in which a child turns eight until the end of the relevant stage of education in which they reach 18. Langley School offer boarding for pupils aged 10 and above.  

Families must apply for the allowance and make a claim for each term. The payment is made through the serving parent’s salary and is subject to a maximum MOD rate. At an independent school, parents must currently pay at least 10% of the eligible fees themselves. Any school discount, scholarship or grant is deducted before the allowance and parental contribution are calculated. 

Our Admissions team can help families understand the school’s fees and paperwork, although final decisions about CEA eligibility and payments are made by the MOD. 

Langley School currently offers military families a 20% reduction in school fees for all children. This reduction can be combined with any applicable sibling discounts, meaning eligible families may receive both discounts. Families should tell the Admissions team that they are a forces family when applying. Other support, including bursaries and scholarships, may also be available depending on individual circumstances. 

Under current CEA rules, school discounts, grants and scholarships are deducted from the fees before the MOD allowance and minimum parental contribution are calculated. Families should therefore ask Langley School and the MOD to confirm exactly how the combined military and sibling discounts, together with CEA, would apply to their own fees.

There is no automatic national entitlement to priority admission at an independent boarding school. Places are offered our normal admissions process. However, we will do everything we can to help, having supported many military families through the unique stresses of finding a school that meets their needs.

Langley School in Norfolk accepts applications throughout the year and encourages forces families to speak to the Admissions team as early as possible. Where a posting is confirmed at short notice, we will work with families to accommodate their needs as best as we can.  

For many families, boarding provides a secure and consistent routine while one or both parents are deployed or working away. Children have staff available throughout the day and night, regular meals and supervised study, as well as activities and time with friends. 

Every child is different, so families should consider their child’s age, confidence and feelings about living away from home. Langley works closely with parents before a child joins so that the boarding and pastoral teams understand any deployment, separation or family circumstances that may affect them. 

Military children receive the same comprehensive, pastoral care as every Langley boarder, alongside support that reflects their individual family circumstances. The boarding, pastoral, safeguarding and academic teams work together to help each pupil settle, build friendships and manage periods of change or separation. 

Support is available through boarding staff, Heads of Year, form tutors, school nurses, the school counsellor, pastoral support workers, the safeguarding team and mental health first aiders. Staff living on site are available during evenings and overnight. 

We encourage boarders to become fully involved in school life, as establishing routines, joining activities and spending time with other pupils can help them settle into their new environment and feel part of the Langley community. 

Langley offers a wide range of opportunities, so pupils can explore their interests, discover new passions and become part of a team. Whether they are interested in sport, drama, music, creative arts, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, the Combined Cadet Force or something entirely new, pupils are encouraged to get involved. 

These experiences can help pupils build friendships and develop confidence, independence, teamwork, creativity, resilience and leadership. Langley’s active Combined Cadet Force includes Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force sections, while the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is available at all levels. 

No. Langley’s Combined Cadet Force is open to pupils who want to develop confidence, resilience, teamwork, leadership and practical skills, whether or not they are considering a career in the Armed Forces. 

Recent Sixth Form pupil Kalan speaks fondly of his experience in the CCF and the wider benefits it offered: “CCF gives you foundational skills that set you up for later in life – collaboration, leadership and discipline,” he says. “It’s something schools don’t always prepare you for, but Langley does.” 

For pupils who may wish to pursue a military career, participating in the CCF can also provide strong foundations for the future. It introduces pupils to Service values, responsibility, structured training and leadership opportunities, helping them gain relevant experience and make a more informed decision about their next steps. 

Boarders can keep in regular contact with their families through phone calls, messaging and agreed video or scheduled calls. Staff can also help facilitate additional contact when a parent is deployed, working in a different time zone or temporarily difficult to reach. 

Langley offers a range of boarding options to suit different family circumstances. Depending on the chosen arrangement, pupils may be able to return home at weekends, board during the school week or use boarding on a more flexible basis. 

Langley also uses the Reach boarding management app to communicate with parents, request consent for trips, manage leave arrangements and share information relating to daily boarding and pastoral care. 

Experience varies between schools, so parents should ask how the school supports children through deployments, postings and short-notice changes, how its boarding and pastoral teams work together, and how communication with parents is managed. 

Langley has experience supporting children from active-Service families. Our boarding team is accustomed to caring for pupils whose families may live elsewhere in the UK or overseas, while our pastoral staff work closely with parents to understand each child’s circumstances and provide consistent, individual support. 

We also maintain strong links with the Armed Forces through our Combined Cadet Force. At our 2026 CCF Inspection Day, the Inspecting Officer came from RAF Marham in Kings Lynn, and we were the only CCF contingent that the Princess Royal engaged with at the Le Paradis Memorial service in 2025.  

Yes. Langley School is proud to support the Armed Forces community. We have pledged our support through the Armed Forces Covenant and achieved Bronze status in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme in 2020. 

This recognition reflects our commitment to treating members of the Armed Forces community with fairness, understanding and respect. 

Families should look beyond academic results and consider whether the school will provide the right environment for their child to thrive and belong. Important questions include: 

• What pastoral, safeguarding and wellbeing support is available? 

• How will the school communicate with parents overseas? 

• Is the school eligible under the relevant MOD arrangements? 

• What is included in the fees, and what costs remain after CEA and discounts? 

• Is the school an Armed Forces-friendly organisation? 

• Can the school support the child’s subjects, activities and any additional educational needs? 

• What boarding options are available?  

• What co-curricular opportunities are available to pupils with different interests?  

Visiting the school and boarding accommodation is valuable wherever possible. Langley also offers virtual conversations for families who are unable to visit in person due to posting, location or deployment. Online meetings can be booked via our booking calendar.  

• Full boarding provides accommodation throughout the term and may suit families posted overseas or parents whose service commitments involve frequent travel. 

• Weekly boarding allows pupils to board during the school week and return home at weekends. 

• Flexi-boarding enables pupils to stay for two or three regular nights each week. 

• Ad hoc and emergency boarding may be available for occasional nights, subject to space and advance discussion with the boarding team. 

Short-term boarding placements may also be considered, with the minimum stay normally being one term.