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Written question asked by Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative) on Friday, 17 October 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 21 October 2025. It was answered by Louise Sandher-Jones (Labour) on Monday, 27 October 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Army: Apprentices

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2025 to Question 44144 on Armed Forces: Training, what steps his Department has taken to improve the British Army Apprenticeship programme’s Ofsted rating.

Answer

The Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring the British Army Apprenticeship Programme (AAP) achieves the highest standards of training and continues its progress towards an Outstanding Ofsted rating. The Army, as the UK’s largest Employer Provider with 12,500 soldier apprentices across 41 programmes, continues to achieve results well above the national average.

The AAP operates a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP), informed by Ofsted inspections and an internal Self-Assessment Process, which is being updated to align with the new Ofsted Further Education and Skills Inspection Toolkit (FES IT) coming into effect in November 2025.

Key improvements being implemented include digitalising the programme by 2027, creating 92 additional management posts to oversee End Point Assessment delivery, enhancing functional skills delivery and governance, improving curriculum standards, reducing the number of Post Planned End Date learners, and strengthening safeguarding measures.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
83079
Session
2024-26
Related items
Armed Forces: Training
Thursday, 10 April 2025
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Army Apprentices Standards
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk