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A campaign group has called for the closure of Harrogate‘s Army Foundation College after Parliament revealed how much it costs to run.

A question by Labour shadow justice minister Alex Cunningham discovered the annual running cost of the college, which provides basic training for 16 and 17-year-old junior recruits, is £85.5 million.

A separate question by SNP defence spokesperson Martin Docherty revealed it costs £133,000 for each trainee that completes the college’s 49-week junior entry course.

The questions were asked by the MPs on behalf of the campaign group Child Rights International Network.

Jim Wyke, coordinator for national security policy at CRIN, said the figures confirmed its suspicion that it costs more to train a 16-year-old at the college on Penny Pot Lane than it does to put an adult through the same process.

Mr Wyke said younger army recruits took longer to train (16 months vs. six months for the infantry) and were more likely to drop out (33% vs. 23%).

He also said the annual running cost of an average secondary school was £5 million, whereas the Harrogate army college costs £85.5m — 17 times more.

Mr Wyke said:

“The Army Foundation College is an incredibly expensive institution to run with an appalling track record on welfare and drop-out rates.

“It’s educational offerings fall well short of those available at a civilian college, while costing 17 times as much to run and with a record on sexual violence that would see any civilian college shut down.”

The college entrance on Penny Pot Lane.

A British Army spokesperson said:

“The Army Foundation College Harrogate trains over 900 junior soldiers annually and has exceeded 85% retention for the short course and is on track to exceed previous retention for the long course in February 2024.

“The full annual cost of the college delivers an excellent product at great value, with Ofsted rating all elements of provision such as facilities, infrastructure and resources as ‘outstanding’.

AFC Harrogate is a national employer, therefore it is disingenuous to compare it to a civilian college or secondary school.

“AFC Harrogate has very strong safeguarding mechanisms to ensure junior soldiers have the right support. The army is committed to stamping out all forms of inappropriate behaviour and has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual offences; personnel convicted of a sexual offence will be dismissed.”

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