The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) is a tri-service youth organisation within a school, sponsored by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), and normally includes Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force sections. CCF units have been in private schools or many years, but the Army introduced the Cadet Expansion Program in 2012, with a view to set up contingents in 500 state schools. The Arnold Hill Spencer Academy contingent set up in 2016 as part of this expansion. We currently only have an Army Section, but are looking towards adding an RAF section in the not too distant future.
The CCF’s aim is 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, and a sense of service to the community. This aim is achieved by conducting numerous activities and MoD training exercises throughout the year that also supports the development of life skills including teamwork, problem solving and communication skills.
The cadet journey at Arnold Hill starts with a ‘Have a go Day’ at the end of year 7, for students to try out some of the activities and learn more about cadets. They can then join at the start of Year 8 as recruits. By the end of Year 9 they will have learned enough to be able to attend Summer Camp, which is a week long camp on a military base using the skills they have learned. From Year 10 they start to move up the ranks and take on some leadership roles. By the Sixth form the Cadets become the instructors and deliver most of the training to the younger cadets, all under the watchful eye of the adult instructors.
The Adult instructors or ‘Civilian Forces Adult Volunteers’ (CFAVs) are a mixture of school staff, military staff and volunteers.
If you would like any more information about the CCF at Arnold Hill then please get in touch with us at info@arnoldhillspencer.org.uk
