Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons the Army does not offer GCSE retakes.

The Army is an equal opportunities employer, with its literacy and numeracy policy centred on nationally recognised Functional Skills (FS) qualifications, which are the standard for career and service progression within the Army.

While GCSEs are recognised as equivalent qualifications, the Army avoids duplicating education already available in the civilian sector, as this does not align with its training model. Instead, the Army provides English and Maths teaching assessed through FS exams, which focus on practical, real-world skills better suited to workplace needs.