Written question asked by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Tuesday, 12 April 2016, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 18 April 2016 (named day). It was answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative) on Monday, 18 April 2016 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Armed Forces: GCSE

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many enlisted soldiers who were not commissioned officers gained GCSEs in (a) English and (b) mathematics while serving in the army in each of the last five years; and how many such soldiers gained GCSEs in (i) English and (ii) mathematics within four years of enlisting.

Answer: The Army provides opportunities for personnel to gain functional skills in literacy and numeracy. These are the standards that the Army has determined it requires and links these functional skills qualifications with promotion to certain ranks. Individuals are free to pursue GCSEs as part of their elective personal development with the support of learning credits schemes but the details of such GCSE qualifications are not held centrally.

Secondary information