CCF and Life Skills

Our pupils join the Combined Cadet Force at the start of the Fourth Form and it is a core activity in our co-curricular programme, with participation compulsory for the year.  Pupils can choose between the Army, Navy and Air Force Sections, or alternatively we offer a Life Skills programme.

The Combined Cadet Force was founded in 1948 as a Ministry of Defence youth organisation, although its roots go further back to 1860. The stated aims of the CCF are to ‘provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self-reliance, resourcefulness, endurance and perseverance’.

Pupils can choose between the Army, Navy or Airforce Sections, depending on their own personal interests – or, for those who would prefer not to be involved in military-type activities – we offer Life Skills. This year, this programme has included diet and health, finance, research and presentation skills, mindfulness, cooking in lockdown and sewing.

Both programmes take place on Wednesday afternoons. In the CCF there are a number of core activities that all sections cover, including drill, command tasks and navigation, plus our own low ropes and obstacle course. Beyond these, the Army Section will specialise in Fieldcraft and Shooting; the Navy focusses on watermanship and naval skills; the RAF enjoys regular flying at RAF Benson and learns about the history and principles of flight.

During the Autumn and Spring Terms, all Fourth Form pupils spend two days away on a Field Weekend. They travel to Army, Navy and RAF bases and undertake the more adventurous activities which cannot usually be undertaken during the usual weekly sessions.

Cadets who decide to remain in the CCF in the Fifth and Sixth Forms will have the opportunity to develop leadership skills and to be promoted to an NCO. Our expectation is that after completion of their Methods of Instruction course, our senior cadets are prepared to lead activities for the juniors.

The CCF holds a formal Annual Inspection each Summer Term, when the Guard of Honour is inspected by a serving officer. Prizes, including the Sword of Honour, are awarded to our top cadets. We also support the local Wolvercote Branch of the British Legion at the yearly Remembrance Day Parade and Service. A gallery of photos from the 2022 CCF Inspection can be viewed here.

The CCF Contingent Commander is Squadron Leader Nick Coram-Wright RAFAC. The Senior Schools’ Instructor is Capt. Oliver Perera.

 

 

Pupils are resolutely successful in achievement beyond the classroom.
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