Festival of Friends: sharing what works for Service children

Every Service child deserves support that understands their experiences and helps them thrive. No two schools are the same. But every school has something to share – and something to learn.  

That’s why the Festival of Friends case study collection brings together examples of effective practice from schools across the UK. Linked to the SCiP Alliance's Thriving Lives Toolkit, these resources show how schools have responded to the needs of their Service children, offering practical ideas that other settings can learn from and adapt. 

Learning from schools across the country  

Festival of Friends projects have taken place across a number of regions, creating a growing collection of case studies that showcase how schools are strengthening support for Service children.  

Each project has encouraged schools to use the  SCiP Alliance's Thriving Lives Toolkit to identify areas for development and implement evidence-informed improvement activities. The resulting case studies provide practical examples of effective practice that can be adapted and applied in other settings.  

Led by SCiP Alliance Management Group member, Matt Blyton, Festival of Friends brings together schools, local authorities, universities and funders across the UK. Through a consistent focus on collaboration, school improvement and the Thriving Lives Toolkit, these projects have created a rich and growing collection of practical examples that schools can use to strengthen support for Service children.  

Explore the case studies. Share the learning. Strengthen support for Service children. 

Whether you’re a school leader, practitioner, local authority representative or partner organisation, these case studies offer practical ideas and inspiration for supporting Service children.  

We encourage you to explore the resources, share them with colleagues and consider how the approaches featured could inform your own provision. Because when schools learn from one another, more Service children benefit. 

Access the case studies below

Portsmouth and Gosport Festival of Friends (2024-25)  

Schools across Portsmouth and Gosport came together to strengthen support for Service children through collaboration, shared learning and local Hub Networks. 

Twenty-seven schools took part, supported by Portsmouth City Council, Hampshire County Council and the University of Portsmouth to develop sustainable improvements for Service children using the SCIP Alliance’s Thriving Lives Toolkit. 

More than 120 Service children took part in a pupil voice conference, exploring and celebrating their experiences through creative workshops. The project concluded with a celebration event showcasing the impact of schools' improvement work and the difference collaboration can make to the lives of Service Children.  

Lincolnshire Festival of Friends (2023-24)  

Schools across Lincolnshire came together to strengthen support for Service children by sharing learning, building local partnerships and developing effective practice. With a particular focus on supporting settings with smaller numbers of Service children on roll, schools used the SCiP Alliance Thriving Lives Toolkit to identify areas for development and implement targeted improvement projects.  

The project strengthened links between schools, promoted the sharing of effective practice and raised awareness of Service children's experiences across the wider school community.  

Oxfordshire Festival of Friends (2022-23)  

Twenty schools and one early years setting worked together to strengthen provision for Service children through professional development, school improvement projects and collaborative learning.  

Funded by the Armed Forces Education Trust and supported by Study Higher UniConnect and the RAF Families Federation, the project equipped school-based Armed Services Pupil Champions with specialist training, giving them the confidence to lead improvement activities within their own settings.  

The project concluded with a celebration event at Oxford Brookes University, bringing together Service children from across the participating schools.  

Further Festival of Friends resources and case studies will be added here as they become available.