SCHOOLING

An SCE secondary school and 3 primary schools serve the JHQ community.  There is also good pre-school provision.  A comprehensive range of adult education and German language courses are provided at 34 Army Education Centre where an Army Learning Centre and a Defence Electronic Learning Centre are also located.  JHQ has a large lending library.

Adult/Children’s Education/Youth Activities

Service Children’s Education

Schools are administered by Service Children’s Education.  SCE is a Defence agency whose headquarters are located at BFPO 140.

Admission to Schools

Children may be admitted to school at the beginning of the Autumn term following their fourth birthday.  (The notional date for the start of term is 1 September, so the child must have reached the age of four before 31 August).  Attendance is obligatory from the start of the term following the child’s fifth birthday.

Allocation of Places at Primary School

There are currently three primary schools on the RMC, one at Elmpt and one at Wildenrath.  Children are normally allocated places according to where the family is quartered, although there may be occasions when particular classes in the normal school are operating at full capacity and it is necessary to admit the child to one of the other schools.

Parental Choice of School

Parents have the right, as they do in UK, to express a preference for a place at an alternate SCE school.  Places other than at the designated school may be allocated only if there is spare capacity at the preferred school.  The availability of spare capacity is determined by class size rather than the overall school roll.  Further details of parental preference scheme can be found in the SCI booklet ‘Wisely and well’, which is available from the Rhine Area Education Office or HIVE.

Registration        

On arrival in the RMC parents should contact the school indicated on their Housing allocation form regarding the admission of their children.

Midday Meals                  

A midday meal is available for school children.  Parents should notify the Head teacher at initial registration whether or not their child will require a school meal.  The cost of school meals is subject to change.

School Uniform               

Parents are advised to contact the school that their child will be attending for details of school uniform.

School Transport            

Off-base areas will be provided with transport to the designated school.  Children admitted under the Parental Preference scheme may use existing transport on a ‘fillup’ basis only.

School Governance Committees

Each school has a school Governance committee (SGC), which meets at least once a term.  The purpose of the SGC is to enable the community and parents body to contribute to the strategic direction and governance of the school, including matters such as approval of school’s budget, approval and review of school’s policies, evaluation of the school’s results etc.  The SGC will normally comprise a minimum of nine persons, including unit, parent, community and staff representatives.  The SGC will usually be chaired by a senior officer nominated by the Garrison Commander.  There should be at least three parent representatives on the SGC, which may include parents of children attending any associated FS1 setting.  Parent’s who can contribute to the community in this way, please contact the Headteacher of your child’s school.

Schools

Primary

St Patrick’s School - Otto Schmalbruch Strasse (JHQ 3151) MG Civil (02161) 472 3151

St Andrew’s School- Otto Schmalbruch Strasse (JHQ 2344) MG Civil (02161) 472 2344.

Essex Drive, Cornwall Drive, Brailmont Road, Elgin Walk, Forfar Way, Dorchester Way, Roxburgh Drive, Bangor Walk, Winchester Way, Derby Walk, Cumberland Drive, Exeter Way, Sailsbury Walk, Dolgelly Walk, Herford Way, Marlbrough Road (East), Londonderry Drive, Cardigan Way, Lancaster Way, Flint Drive, Cupar Way, Appleby Walk, Worchester Way, Norwich Walk, Belfast Walk, Roberts Road, Aylesbury Way, Hereford Walk, Sussex Drive, Durham Walk, Carlisle Avenue, Lincoln Drive, Gloucester Avenue, Sterling Walk, Taunton Way, Pembroke Drive, Lewes Walk, Kinross Drive, Canterbury Way, Leicester Way, Marino Way, Stafford Way, Bodmin Walk, Wrexham Walk, Marlborough Road (West), Oxford Walk, Buckingham Way, Portadown Way, Lanark Walk, Argyll Drive, Brecon Walk, Dingall Way, Shrewbury Way, Ballymena Walk. Also for those Married Quarters in the Ayrshire estate at MG.

St George’s School – Wolseley Road (JHQ 2840) MG Mil (02161) 472 2840

All other accommodation areas on the RMC, i.e. Southwest Extension /Bushof and Wegberg.

Brüggen School – Elmpt station, Javelin Barracks, (68 2681) – Civil (02163 972349)

For all accommodation areas at White City and Windberg in Mönchengladbach.

Andrew Humphrey School – Wildenrath BFPO 40 (02432 8520).

Secondary

Windsor School – Snyders Road (JHQ 2412) MG Civil (02161) 472 2412.

RMC, Elmpt Station, Mönchengladbach, Waldniel, Wegberg and Wildenrath.

Uniform is Black Trousers, White polo shirt and Windsor Logo Sweatshirt

Area Education Office

Parents wanting advice or information on school, Fountain Stage Education, or on any matters relating to SCE provision, should contact SCE Area Education Officer in the first instance.  The Area Education Officer for Rhine Area Schools is based in the Area Education Office, Building 33, Chazal Road, JHQ BFPO 40.Tel: JHQ Mil 8506, Civil 02161 472 8506.

Child Guidance Centre

The local SCE Education Psychologist and Senior Social worker are based at the Child Guidance Centre Building 33 Chazal Road, JHQ BFPO 40.

Tel: JHQ Mil 8506, Civil 02161 472 8506

Careers Advice

The Careers Centre is located in Windsor School, Rheindahlen.  It is staffed by a qualified and experienced careers adviser, employed by SCE.  There is an extensive careers library, containing items available for loan and many handouts may be taken away.  Anyone wishing to make an appointment with the Careers Adviser should telephone JHQ 2585 or 2838 or Civil 02161 4722585 or 4722838.  The Careers Centre is open to callers during office hours on weekends including school holidays.  Careers advice is available not only to school pupils but also to dependants and entitled persons up to age 25.

Provision for pre- school Children

SCE Foundation stage 1 Settings

From Jan 01 free part time FS 1 (Nursery) places became available for three - year-old children in the term after their third birthday.

Woodlands FS 1, 162 Queens Avenue (Managed by St George’s Primary School )

Stepping Stones FS 1, Malta Way Child Care Centre.  JHQ Mil 4069 (Managed by St Andrews’s & St Patrick’s Primary Schools).

Nursery

The Ladybird Nursery, Beresford Road, is a full day childcare nursery for children 1 to 5 years and is managed by the AWS.   Tel No.02161 472 2189.  An SCE FS 1 class is held in the Ladybird Nursery. Details on SCE FS 1 (Nursery) provision is available from AEO (FS& P), HQ SCE, Wegberg Mil 2324 or 02161 9082324.

Playgroups

St Andrew’s Playgroup is the remaining playgroup and takes children from 3 to 5 years and can be found at the Ladybird Nursery (details above).  The programme follows closely the Early Years principles but the playgroup is not SCE sponsored and the children are fee paying.

Creches

Honeypot Creche, Malta Way Child Care Centre (JHQ Mil 3571)

Sunflower Creche, 153 Queens Avenue (02161 556310)

Mother and Toddler Groups

Barney’s Playgroup, 175/177 Lilliental Str, 41069 MG. Ayrshire Housing Estate.

Boddlers, St Andrew’s Church Hall. JHQ.

Tumbling Tots, St Andrews Church Hall, JHQ.        

Mothers and Toddlers, Lilliental Str 120, Ayrshire Housing Estate.

Noahs Nippers, Andrew’s Church Hall, JHQ.

Details on the above childcare facilities can be obtained from the HIVE

(JHQ 2519) MG Civil 02161 472 2519.

Visits of School Children from Boarding Schools in the UK

Parents are advised to acquaint themselves with the regulations contained in JSP 356 Chap.7.  Further assistance and necessary forms can be obtained from the RAO (JHQ 2929) MG Civil (02161) 472 2929.

Adult Education

34 Army Education

Cambridge House, Moore Road, JHQ 34 AEC offers a wide range of facilities for individuals living in the Garrison Area.  Education for Promotion, Basic Instructional Techniques and Basic Skill courses are run throughout the year to support Army personnel.  There are also a number of vocational and recreational courses available to military personnel, civil servants and dependants.  These run in the daytime and evenings and courses available include IT, Aromatherapy and Modern Dance, Soft Furnishings and Basic/Intermediate Food Hygiene.  There are GCSE qualifications and several languages with German classes at varying levels of ability.  A comprehensive booklet detailing the courses on offer is available every term from reception.

Anyone requiring resettlement advice or would like to start studying in his or her own time should book an interview with the Individual Education & Resettlement Officer.  There is also an Open Learning Room providing information on career options, distance - learning courses, Open University opportunities etc.

The Army Learning Centre (ALC) working with the Army Learn - direct is a new approach to learning, which lets you learn where you choose.  It offers over 500 courses online covering skills for life, IT, Business and Management.  For further details call JHQ Mil 3084 or Civilian 02161 472 3084.  The Defence Electronic Learning Centre (DELC), offers a wide range of free courses to military, civilians and dependants.  These include IT packages, Health and Safety, Customer Care, Finance and Languages.  They can be booked over the phone on JHQ Mil 3090, Civ 4723090. There is also a well stocked Library only a short walk from Cambridge House.  It is open most weekdays and Saturday morning.  They run a Children’s story time on Tuesdays.  For more information about the Library telephone JHQ Mil 2616, Civil 02161 4722616.

Salmond House Training Centre

Facilities within Salmond House Training Centre

Contained within Salmond House are the following training and conference facilities:

            The Archie White VC Conference Room

            A VIP Conference Room

            Boardroom and 3 Syndicate rooms

            1 x 24 booth language lab (with 6 Multi- Media PCS for language training)

            2 air – conditioned Information Technology suites

            Snack Bar facilities.

German Language Courses

            Intro German

            Survival Phases A, B&C

            Operational German                                                      )

            Pre- Advanced Certificate                                              ) Mil personnel

            Pre- Diploma                                                                  )

Information Technology Courses

            PC Intro

            Access 1-4

            CASH

            Excel 1-4 & Excel T

            Word 1-4

            Outlook 1-2

            Power Point 1-3

            Db Des 1-2

            Forms & T

            Mstr Docs

            M – Merge

            1 A W/Board

            Macros

            Publisher

            Visio

Vocational Training (VTS) British Forces Germany

Tel: Mil 948 72 4086  / Civilian +49(0) 2161 472 4086

Other offices in: Gütersloh / Paderborn / Bergen-Hohne

OUR MOTTO:

Helping YOU Achieve Your Goals

We provide the assistance learners need to progress into or within their professional role.

A City & Guilds and OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA) Approved Centre.

VTS works with SCE schools, in partnership with all education providers and G1 Welfare Agencies, to enable the community to realise their full potential.   The staff attend BFG Careers Fairs, provide CV Writing and Interview Skills training at Secondary schools and have been part of drawing up the Joint Area Prospectus.

VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Foundation Apprenticeships free to 16-25 year olds

Business & Administration (B&A) or Customer Services (CS)

Key Skills qualifications, Technical Certificate and a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 2

NVQs (please see website for more details)

B&A Levels 1-4                        CS Levels 2+3                        Multi-Skilled Hospitality Level 1

Key Skills (please see website for more details)

3 Core and 3 Wider Key Skills Levels 1-3

Preparation for Employment

School-leavers (16-25 free) / Persons re-entering employment

12 week course, involving a work-placement.

Skills (Key Skills, Technical Skills) can later be mapped to an Apprenticeship qualification.

Learning and Development Awards:

Assessor (A1)                         Verifier (V1)

Professional Training and Development free of charge (please see website for more details)

Various courses (see website for details) for everyone: Military, UKBC, Dependant, DEL

ON the HORIZON: NVQs

Hairdressing (in co-operation with SCE schools)

Volkshochschule.  The Volkshochschule (Peoples High School) is the German version of an Adult Education College.  Classes are in German, but there is a useful and comprehensive set of courses in German for a foreigner (Deutsche fur Auslander), which starts at basic level and gradually builds up vocabulary and conversational ability.  The Volkshochschule in Mönchengladbach is in Haus Berggarten, Lupersender Strasse 85, Mönchengladbach Tel:02161 256404.  Enrolment is by semester and costs between €5 and €25 per term depending on number of instructional hours.

The Station Library

This is located on Collingwood Road, JHQ Mil Ext 2616 or MG Civil (02161) 4722616

All personnel of BFG status and their families living in the Rheindahlen area may use the library.  It holds a large collection of Military titles and educational resources (electronic and hard copy), as well as fiction.  It has free on - line facilities for research, resettlement and educational training.