Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether armed forces trainees are included in the policy of ensuring that by 2020 young people who do not achieve A* to C passes in English and mathematics GCSEs at age 16 resit their exams a year later.

The Department for Education sets a requirement that young people who do not achieve a GCSE grade C in English or mathematics by age 16 should continue the study of these subjects. This requirement applies only to 16-19 study programmes funded by the Education Funding Agency (EFA) and is set out in a funding condition for schools and colleges which receive EFA funding. The requirement would therefore apply to any member of the armed forces undertaking EFA-funded 16-19 programmes. It would not apply to requirements for training provided and funded by the armed forces, which are a matter for the Ministry of Defence.