YOUNG soldiers from North Yorkshire are celebrating achieving their college’s best set of exam results.

The troops, who graduate in Harrogate today, gained the best set of exam results since the Army Foundation College opened in Penny Pot Lane in 1998.

All 330 of the soldiers gained their Level Two Diploma for IT Users, over a 42-week course combining of military skills and vocational qualifications.

Most of them (90 per cent) completed a Level Two qualification in application of number and communication skills, despite one in five new recruits arriving without any formal qualifications.

Lieutenant Colonel Steve Ocock said: “Today is a proud day for our graduating junior soldiers, as well as for all of their military and civilian staff. Their year at Harrogate will have tested them physically and mentally, stretched them to new limits and greatly enhanced their talents and abilities. “They have worked hard and fully deserve the outstanding education results that we have seen at Harrogate this year. They now can look forward to a full and rewarding career, following in the illustrious footsteps of the thousands of soldiers who have previously passed out of the Army Foundation College.”

The junior soldiers, all aged between 16 and 17, will now receive specialist Phase Two training in their chosen Army trade, and will march on to the parade ground at Uniacke Barracks today for inspection in front of thousands of friends and family.s