School in South Cerney sets up after-school club on military base

May 21, 2026

Service children were unable to access after-school clubs due to transport limitations to and from the military base.

What was the situation?

A school in South Cerney noticed that pupils with parents in the Armed Forces were not attending its after-school clubs. The staff realised that this was because the bus timetable between the school and the local military base did not allow these students to stay beyond the school day. These Service children were missing out on extracurricular activities such as a range of sports and social engagements.

What made this Covenant disadvantage?

Due to the Armed Forces requiring families to live on or near the military base, these Service children had more limited transport options than the civilian children. They faced more difficulty than civilian children in attending clubs, as the public transport did not allow this. Service pupils were less able to participate in after-school activities than civilian pupils, reducing their access to social engagement.

What was done to help?

The school worked with the local military base to set up an after-school club located on the base, using its facilities. It was delivered in partnership with a third-party sports provider. Spare spaces were also offered to other affected Service children from other schools.

What was the outcome?

Service children across different schools had the opportunity to access after-school activities, just like their civilian peers. Participation in extra-curricular activities increased, bringing Service children together. The club also communicated with serving parents to include other members of the Armed Forces community, improving civilian-military relationships.

Wider information

You can read more widely about:

• Covenant disadvantage and special provision (the two types of case study in this database)
• Covenant support for the Armed Forces community: Education
• How schools can support the Armed Forces community and implement the Covenant

Disclaimer: This case study is part of the Covenant case study database. MOD has developed the database to illustrate examples of good practice for organisations in scope of the Covenant. It serves as a guide for effective Covenant delivery, offering practical insights into achieving fairness for the Armed Forces community. Delivery of the Covenant may vary across the UK. This means there is no guarantee the solution outlined in this case study is available in your area.