Defence Children Services: Service Pupil Premium – register your child before 1 Oct 2026

Register Before 1st October

📢 If you're a Service parent and your child attends a school in England, make sure their school knows about your Service status before 1 October 2026.

Eligible schools can receive £360 per eligible Service pupil through the Service Pupil Premium (SPP), helping them provide additional support for Service children.

Find out more about eligibility and how you can help your school access this valuable funding:

https://dcs.school/2026/09/11/service-pupil-premium-2026-extra-funding-for-service-children-in-england/

North Wiltshire: Are you looking for employment in the area?

Due to the Wiltshire HIVEs closing at the end of September, local jobs are unlikely to be shared on the blog for the time-being.

In the meantime, please see below a selection of employers and websites in the North Wiltshire area. Please note that this is a very small selection and includes some employers who have previously contacted HIVE directly in order to share job ads:

North Yorkshire: Intro to Digital Functional Skills with Adult Learning

 

Click on the image to use the links

Hampshire: Hampshire County Council - Starting School in September 2027

 

Information Provided by South East HIVE Hub

Click HERE for further Information

Defence Children Services: Service Pupil Premium – register your child before 1 Oct 2026

If you're a Service parent and your child attends a school in England, make sure their school knows about your Service status before 1 October 2026.

Eligible schools can receive £360 per eligible Service pupil through the Service Pupil Premium (SPP), helping them provide additional support for Service children.

Find out more about eligibility and how you can help your school access this valuable funding:

https://dcs.school/2026/09/11/service-pupil-premium-2026-extra-funding-for-service-children-in-england/

Hereford: Apply for a secondary school place 2027

 

If you live in Herefordshire and your child is due to transfer from primary Year 6 and start secondary school in Year 7 in September 2027 then you must apply for their school place between 7 September and 31 October 2026.

If your child has an EHCP you do not need to apply on this page. Please view the information for children with an EHCP moving to secondary school.
How to apply

Please read the secondary school admissions guidance documents before making an application.

Apply for a secondary place

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub

Armed Forces Children’s transitions between education systems – An Educators’ Toolkit

A new resource has been created for educators to support with planning transition for Service children: https://dcs.school/transition/ Families may also find the information helpful.

This toolkit has been developed specifically to help educators support armed forces children’s transitions between different education systems. Using this resource, educators can help children and young people from UK Armed Forces families experience positive transitions and thrive academically, socially and emotionally, wherever they move in the UK or overseas.

It was developed collaboratively by education practitioners and education policy professionals from across Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England. This involved officials from Government Departments, local authority officers, schools and Service charities from across the UK.

Dorset: Lulworth & Winfrith primary school open morning for 2027 starters - Mon 12th Oct

 

Click on poster above to enlarge 

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

Colchester: Building Heroes HEYBRIDGE, ESSEX 2026-2027 Course Dates - Spaces available

 

Information Provided by East HIVE Hub

Guildford & London: Cyber Access 3rd September - 29th September 2026

 

• 3rd  & 17th September 2026 - Royal Holloway University of London, Egham (TW20 OEX)
• 24th & 29th September 2026 - Surrey Research Park, Guildford ( GU2 7YG

For application form click  HERE for further information

Information provided by South East HIVE

Vale of Glamorgan: Free School Meals Scheme for Pupils in Years 7 & 8 - Vale of Glamorgan

Vale of Glamorgan Council:

From September, pupils in Years 7 and 8 living in households receiving Universal Credit will be able to apply for the Welsh Government’s expanded Free School Meals scheme, following the removal of the income threshold.

This is the first phase of a wider rollout to other secondary school year groups

Check the eligibility criteria and apply for Free School Meals

Remember, the eligibility criteria for Free School Meals and the School Essentials Grant are different. If you need help with the cost of school uniforms, equipment or other essentials, you can also check whether you're eligible for a School Essentials Grant

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub

Barry: Vale Learning & Careers Fair on Wed 23rd Sept 26 at Barry Library

 

Adult Learners’ Week Learning & Careers Fair on Wednesday 23 September 2026, from 10:00am to 12:30pm, at Barry Library, Barry. The quiet hour will be from 10:00am to 11:00am.

For more information visit the Vale of Glamorgan Council website & Vale Employability Facebook Page.

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub

Dorset: Adult learning courses

For information about courses, learning opportunities, learning at home and more please visit
https://www.webenrol.com/skillsandlearningace/

For details of local courses and information see links below.

Link to our online courses (courses are held online via Teams at specific times with a “live” tutor)

Link to distance learning courses (These are online modules that can be accessed whenever convenient)

Link to courses in Blandford

Link to courses in Poole, Wareham or Dorchester

Information about our employability and careers courses (also known as work skills)

Information about our English for Speakers of Other Languages courses

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

Ripon: Thinking about Learning with ALSS?

 
If you're thinking about enrolling on an Adult Learning Course, the team will be at Ripon Community House between 1pm and 3pm on Tuesday 8th September to give advice and help you through the process.

For more information visit www.northyorks.gov.uk/adultlearning
Tel: 01609 536 066 or Email: AdultLearningService@northyorks.gov.uk

Information provided by North HIVE Hub

Defence Children Services students celebrate 2026 exam results

 

Students at Defence Children Services secondary schools have been celebrating throughout August, with many progressing to university, military careers and apprenticeships. Read more about this year's results at Queen Victoria School, King Richard School and St John's School: 

 Defence Children Services students celebrate 2026 exam results

Northern Ireland: Back To School Contact Information

BACK TO SCHOOL CONTACT INFORMATION

With the new school term about to start, the Education Authority NI (EANI) have published contact details for any queries you may have in relation to Special Educational Needs (SEN) services, Free school meals and uniform grant, Home to School Transport, School Admissions and General enquiries.

Please see Useful Back to School contact information which can be accessed by the link below:

Back to School | Education Authority Northern Ireland

Scotland: Queen Victoria School Dunblane Open Morning Saturday 12th September

click on image to enlarge

Open morning will take place on Saturday 12th September 2026 and applications for admission to QVS close on the 15th January each year, 

Families are welcome to find out more by contacting Admissions on 03311433294 or email qvs.admissions@modschools.org 

Queen Victoria School - Boarding School, Dunblane, Scotland

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Exceptional GCSE Results at The Duke of York’s Royal Military School

Exceptional GCSE Results at The Duke of York’s Royal Military School

Students at The Duke of York's Royal Military School are celebrating another year of exceptional GCSE results, where a third of grades were 9-7 and 69% of students gained a 5 or above in both English and Maths. Many students have also secured prestigious academic and sports scholarships as they continue their educational journey into the school's Sixth Form.

Principal Alex Foreman said: "Education today asks more of schools than ever before, and I am incredibly proud that our students continue to rise to every challenge. These results are a testament to their commitment, ambition, and perseverance, alongside the dedication of our outstanding staff.

As a boarding school, we offer something distinctive: a community built on belonging, opportunity and strong relationships, where young people are given the confidence to grow academically and personally. We often talk about nurturing 'acorns into oaks', and these results show what can be achieved when young people are supported to develop not only knowledge and skills, but also character, resilience and independence.

We celebrate every one of our students and look forward to seeing the difference they will make in the years ahead."

This year's GCSE students have laid strong foundations for the next stage of their education. Twenty-four students have been awarded academic scholarships in recognition of their outstanding examination performance, while twenty-two students have received sports scholarships, celebrating their talent, dedication and leadership both on and off the field. Twelve of these students will join the School's Rugby Performance Pathway, delivered in partnership with Saracens Rugby Club, providing an exceptional opportunity to combine academic study with elite sporting development.

At The Duke of York's Royal Military School, students benefit from outstanding teaching, small class sizes and a unique boarding environment that supports both academic achievement and personal development. Alongside an exceptional education, students develop the confidence, resilience and leadership skills that prepare them for success in Sixth Form and beyond.

The School congratulates all students on their achievements and looks forward to welcoming many of them into Sixth Form as they continue their journey as Dukies.

Applications for September entry remain open, with academic scholarships available for external applicants.

For more information, visit www.doyrms.com.

Wiltshire: Skills Bootcamps

Skills Bootcamps are available free of charge for individual learners who are job searching and looking to improve their skills. It is also available for self employed people who are looking to progress their business.

Please note these are available for learners from Wiltshire and Swindon.

There is a mixture of online and in-person courses available, in subjects such as:

• Education & Early Years
• Health & Social Care
• Digital & AI
• Hospitality
• Business & Employment Skills

Please click here for further information

Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVEs

Leuchars: AI Skills Drop-in session with BFBS, Tuesday 1st September in the Co-working hub.

Join the MCN and BFBS at the Military Coworking Network hub in Leuchars for a free drop-in AI skills session, open to all military partners and spouses.

Whether you want to know how AI can help you find a job, run a business, plan a move, or just make everyday life a little easier, come and have a chat with us. There's no agenda, no pressure, and no tech experience needed. Just drop in whenever works for you between 10am and 3pm on Tuesday 1st September and we'll work through whatever's most useful for you.

Refreshments will be provided.

Free to attend. Open to all military partners and spouses, you don't need to be an MCN member to come along.

Funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust as part of the AI Skills Programme for Military Partners.

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE