RAOC Gazette - page 45
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1983 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | Yes |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1983 |
| Late date | 1983 |
| Transcription |
H O W M U C H DO YOU K N O W ABOUT T H E D U K E OF YORK'S R O Y A L MILITARY S C H O O L ? THE Duke of York's Royal Military School, founded by Royal Charter at Chelsea in 1801 by Frederick Duke of York is now situated in one hundred and fifty acres of downland about two miles east of Dover, Kent. The School, although still unique in certain respects, has changed a very great deal from those early days when it operated as an orphanage for children of soldiers killed in battle. It compares very favourably with most independent boarding schools. The four hundred and seventy boys, aged eleven to eighteen, are comfortably provided for in every respect and enjoy a very high standard of academic, sporting and social facilities which include a science block, computer room, language laboratory, theatre, workshops, gym- nasium, indoor swimming pool, athletic track, rifle ranges and playing fields which are the envy of many other schools. The Headmaster is a RAEC Colonel or Lieutenant Colonel and is assisted by a civilian Deputy Headmaster, Bursar, C of E Chaplain, eight civilian Housemasters, twenty seven Assistant Schoolmasters, four instructors, ten Housematrons and Admini- strative Staff. There is a resident Medical Officer, a visiting dentist and two Nursing Sisters. The School is a member of both the Governing Bodies Association and the Boarding Schools Association and is inspected from time to time by HM Inspectors of Schools. - Although it is financed by the Ministry of Defence the School is not a military unit. It is an ordinary boys boarding school providing an education up to GCE Advanced and Scholarship levels which fits young men to proceed to University or to enter the Services, professions, commerce and industry direct. This is done in a sensible disciplined environment which retains only what is best of the Schools military tradition. About fifteen per cent of the boys enter the Services and over half of the boys in the Upper Sixth proceed to Universities and Polytechnics. For a boy to be eligible for consideration one parent must have served as an Officer or Soldier for a minimum of four years on a regular engagement. Parents may be serving or retired. Boys normally enter the school at the age of eleven years, though there are a few vacancies for boys of thirteen years of age. Parents who wish their sons to be considered for entry to the school may register their boys from the age of eight years onwards. Prospective parents may visit the school at any time but preferably by appointment. Applications for admission in September 1984 are now invited from parents of boys whose dates of birth fall between 1st September 1972 and 31st August 1973. Applications for boys whose birthdays fall after 31st August 1973 will be considered exceptionally, provided they have completed their primary education. The closing date for applications for admission in September 1984 is 1st November 1983. No applications can be considered after this date (except in compassionate circum- stances). Application forms and prospectuses may be obtained from the Admissions Clerk. All candidates will sit written examina- tions in English, Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning. The examinations which are normally held in the candidates current school, will take place on 15th November 1983. Candidates are expected to have achieved the standards of literacy and numeracy normally associated with the top half of the appropriate junior school year group. No past papers are available. Candidates may be required to attend for interview at the school. Parents of such applicants will be notified in good time. If any overseas applicants are required for interview, arrangements will be made through the Chief Education Officer of the Command concerned. Offers of places will be made early in 1984. Parents of candidates who have taken the examination should not initiate enquiries before 30th March 1984. Parents of boys already registered for the September 1984 entry are reminded to keep the Admissions Clerk informed of up-to-date addresses and current schools. Letters notifying entrance examination arrangements will be sent to the last recorded addresses. Tuition is free but parents are required to purchase certain items of school uniform and sportswear from the local school outfitters and to contribute towards the cost of other items issued by the school. They are also required to provide pocket money and incidental expenses and to pay a food charge called Home Savings Contribution (HSC) at a rate not exceeding that applied to children boarding at Service children's schools over- seas. This contribution represents the average net saving to a parent which arises from a boy's absence from home during the year. The rate is reviewed annually. The HSC and certain other charges may be waived for boys admitted to the school on compassionate grounds. The waiving of charges is at the discretion of the Board of Commissioners of the school, and will depend on parental circumstances. Since the school is financed by the Ministry of Defence, parents do not qualify for Boarding School Allowance in respect of sons at the school. ARE YOU WITH US ? Well over half of the existing membership of the RAOC Soldiers' One Day's Pay Scheme have now completed the covenant form which so far, at no additional cost to the member, will yield over £10,000 in tax rebate to Corps Funds every year starting this year. D o n ' t fail to take this opportunity ! Over 2,000 Corps members have not made contact or been contacted due to the exigencies of the service. Please m a k e the effort to fill in the form—£20,000 per a n n u m is twice as good as £10,000. Do fill in your Covenant Form and Form ' A ' or ' B ' as applicable, available through your Orderly Room or Pay Office, or see the March Gazette pages 384 and 385. — 38 — |
| Book number | R0406 |