BSA, which has more than 400 UK independent and state member schools, has launched a new scheme to help service personnel work in the sector: ASPIRE (Accredited Service Personnel into Residential Education).
ASPIRE offers a training and induction pathway for serving or former service personnel to explore roles in boarding. Through the scheme, applicants will receive a range of benefits, including:
- Interview to assess suitability to work in boarding
- Online training: introduction to boarding in 2025
- A day’s training on boarding schools, roles, regulations and safeguarding (next running on November 27, 2025)
- An induction visit to a BSA member school
- CV and application support
- Promotion of candidacy to BSA member schools
- Affiliate membership of the BSA’s Accredited Boarding Practitioner scheme
- Affiliate membership of BSA’s sister association for boarding staff, TIOB (The Institute of Boarding)
- An accreditation certificate.
Commenting on ASPIRE, Dale Wilkins, BSA’s Executive Director for Accredited Training, said: “While traditionally roles in boarding have been held by teachers, there is increasing recognition of the many relevant skills, attributes and experience service personnel offer.
“Boarding schools can be a very attractive second career for service personnel, from working in boarding houses to helping with sport, the Duke of Edinburgh Award or cadets, or indeed other roles.
“We believe our new ASPIRE scheme can offer an offer a pathway between talented candidates and schools looking for new boarding talent.”
Mark Mortimer, BSA’s Director of Defence and Military Services, said: “I have long believed that many of the qualities valued in the military are just as important and relevant in a boarding environment, for example, optimism, resilience, initiative, perseverance and flexibility.
“Equally, both sectors are driven by shared values and high standards and thrive by developing people and relationships. They have a great deal more in common than might at first be apparent.”
Alex Foreman, Principal, Duke of York Royal Military School, said: “Supporting ex-service personnel into boarding roles is a win-win. Students will benefit enormously from the resilience and life experience of participants, who will in turn embark upon a fulfilling career mentoring and nurturing young people.”
The ASPIRE programme is currently available at an introductory price of £750.
An Individual Resettlement Training Costs (IRTC) grant of up to £534 may be available to those who have served within the last two years and completed six years of full-time service (or less if medically discharged or made redundant).
For more information and to register, visit boarding.org.uk/aspire
There are no recruitment costs for schools. Additionally, until at least April 5, 2026, schools who hire qualifying veterans can apply to claim National Insurance Contributions (NICs) relief for the first 12 months of the veteran’s first civilian job on earnings up to the Veteran’s Upper Secondary Threshold (currently £50,284).
Categories: Sector News
