The title is slight confusing. For anyone reading this and not understanding the title, what is meant that you can apply to go to the Army Foundation College when you are completing your GCSEs. You will go to Harrogate instead of going to a Sixth Form College/doing A-Levels.
I have a few friends that have been through Harrogate, I don't want to in any way put people off, it is a great opportunity for many people. However, the main negative (as with any other Armed Forces training when you are 16) is that outside of the military your options are not great. Think carefully that doing A-Levels may not be in your best interest.
Yet, the reason Harrogate was set up was to take those people who could see that they were unlikely to progress much further passed GCSEs without pushing. Therefore, I have quite a bit of respect for people at Harrogate because they have noticed that they could easily slip into the 'yob culture' that everyone moans about, and then they found a fantastic way of making a career and organising their lives all in one.