The Combined Cadet Force

 

The Combined Cadet Force is available to those in the Third Form and above.

The CCF is an organisation which is run along military lines - it aims to teach practical skills which are not covered within other subjects at school.

The Corps is split into three sections:

  • The Royal Navy
  • The Army
  • The Royal Air Force

each of which organises specific training relative to the cadets' chosen section.

Training within the CCF is organised and run by members of staff, the Officers, and cadet NCOs (Non Commissioned Officers) who will be pupils in the upper years of the school. Within the initial training of all three services boys will be taught practical skills such as first aid, self-reliance, weapon safety, shooting, map and compass skills as well as an understanding of the Corps' military structure.

Having completed a year of initial training, members will be eligible for promotion and will be encouraged to apply and develop their leadership and organisational skills during the camps. They will also have the opportunity to attend the various courses on offer, these include:

  • Royal Engineers course
  • Infanteering
  • Gliding
  • Power Boating
  • Royal Marine Training, and many others.

Much of the training that is provided within the CCF meets the requirements of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, all members of the school aged 14 or over may join without necessarily joining the Corps. The Corps also runs various sporting activities within its training and on specific outward bound trips. These include, amongst others:

  • Skiing
  • Scuba diving
  • Mountain biking
  • Water sports
  • Rock climbing
  • Assault courses
  • Paintballing

 

The Benefits

The unique way in which the training is organised within the CCF allows younger pupils to meet some of the more senior ones within the school. Also, the physical nature of some of the activities helps to develop higher levels of fitness whilst allowing members to do something that they will never have done before and may never get the chance to do again.

Much of the training that is available to boys in the CCF will have applications later on in life. Boys will have the opportunity to work towards the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and even gain publicly-recognised certificates by completing courses run by The St. John Ambulance, The Royal Yachting Association and The British Canoe Union.

The CCF runs frequent overseas expeditions for outward bound training and an annual skiing trip. In the past few years, these trips have been to Bavaria, France, Kenya, Austria and the Pyrenees.

Most find that by the end of their time with the CCF they have many fond memories and shared experiences that remain with them for the rest of their lives. These experiences help to  make them a more interesting person, also, by gaining promotion, completing the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, or by successfully completing courses outside school, they will have gained invaluable experiences that will demonstrate their motivation and persistence on both a CV or UCAS application.

Uniform

Uniform is provided free of charge, but it remains Government property and must be paid for if lost or damaged. The only item a cadet must provide for himself is a pair of black boots, these can be purchased through the CCF.

Training

The normal progression is as follows:

a)      As far as possible all are enrolled into the section of their choice, however, once a section is full they are given their second choice. During Monday evenings all will receive instruction relevant to their service proficiency syllabus, this includes first aid, map and compass, country code, camp craft, air frame structure, knots and lashings.

b)      By the end of the first year it is hoped that most will have completed their basic proficiency certificate and started up the NCO (Non Commissioned Officer) ladder. More emphasis will then be placed on outward bound and leadership training.

c)      As students become more proficient they are expected to accept greater responsibility for the organisation and running of their section and the Contingent, thus improving their self confidence and leadership skills.

Field Days and Weekend Camps

The nature of certain aspects of the training necessitates that it is carried out away from school. For this reason the Headmaster grants three Field Days per year. These are added to two weekends to enable suitable time for the various training/testing to take place. Attendance at these weekends is therefore compulsory. They consist of two days in the Autumn Term and one in the Spring Term. Additional weekend camps are organised to cover specific activities such as adventure training and shooting, these camps are optional. All are held in establishments with heated accommodation, modern toilet/washing facilities, and centralised catering.

Major Camps

These take place annually during the school holidays. It is hoped that all members of the Contingent will attend at least one while in the CCF. Many, in fact, return year after year. RN, Army and RAF camps are held at service establishments; the current charge is £50-£75 for the week. Adventure Training abroad takes place during the Christmas and summer holidays; the charge depends on location.

Length of Service

Although compulsory service in the CCF finishes at the end of the Spring Term in the Fourth Form year, many boys continue to serve voluntarily in the Fifth and Sixth Form and we encourage this. Fifth and Sixth Formers are free to leave at the end of any term. Members of the third form who feel that the CCF is not for them may leave at the end of the first term in order to start their five term CSO commitment at the beginning of their Forth Form year.

Weekly Parades

All cadets parade at 4pm on Mondays for registration and instruction related to the chosen section’s basic proficiency, normally finishing at 5.15pm. The occasions when the Contingent, or individual Sections, must parade in uniform are published in advance. The wearing of uniform on these days is obligatory, normally two or three times a year.

If a pupil would like to take up CCF as his chosen option he must start in the September of his Third Form year, we do not accept Forth Form entry as the five term commitment might clash with his GCSE studies. Members of the Fifth Form who wish to continue with the CCF normally take sabbatical leave during this period.

It should be stressed that the primary aim of the CCF is not one of a recruiting agency for the Regular Forces. Although some of our training is of a military nature we are placing increasing emphasis on practical, outdoor and adventurous training.