Most initial training establishments run by the UK Armed Forces have been rated either Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, according to a recent parliamentary answer.
In a written question to the Ministry of Defence, Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty asked for the latest Ofsted ratings of establishments responsible for the care and welfare of recruits in initial training.
The response, provided by Minister for Veterans Al Carns, outlined inspection results across all three services and their respective apprenticeship programmes.
The Ofsted ratings for the Armed Forces Apprenticeship programmes were:
- Royal Navy – OUTSTANDING (last inspected 8 March 2018, with the next inspection due before the end of July 2025)
- British Army – GOOD (inspected 25 October 2023)
- Royal Air Force – GOOD (inspected 9 July 2024)
As for individual Armed Forces initial training sites, the ratings for the 2023–24 academic year were as follows:
- Aerial Erector School, RAF Digby, Lincolnshire – OUTSTANDING
- Army Foundation College (Harrogate), North Yorkshire – OUTSTANDING
- Defence Animal Training Centre, Leicestershire – OUTSTANDING
- HMS Raleigh, Cornwall – GOOD
- RAF Shawbury, Shropshire – GOOD
- Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, Devon – GOOD
- 11 Royal School of Signals Regiment, Dorset – GOOD
- HMNB Clyde, Argyll, Scotland – GOOD
- University Officer Training Corps, nationwide – GOOD
- Defence School of Policing and Guarding, Hampshire – GOOD
- Britannia Royal Naval College, Devon – GOOD
The only training centre rated below Good was the Defence Medical Academy in Staffordshire, which was found to require improvement.
All reports are publicly accessible via Ofsted’s website, the minister noted.
