Sevenoaks School CCF consists of about 200 male and female cadets in Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy sections. We have 17 officers who are members of staff and we receive regular help from cadet training teams and liaison officers from the regular Army, RAF and RN. The CCF is an optional activity on Thursday afternoons and is entered at the start of Year 10. Cadets generally stay on until the start of the U6th, and the best cadets will become NCOs. Throughout the year we run overnight exercises in local training areas, and week-long camps are available during the summer holidays to enable cadets to put into practice what they have learnt in school. They also have the opportunity to take advantage of the huge range of courses laid on by the Ministry Of Defence – adventure training, leadership, service familiarisation etc..

The aim of the CCF is to encourage cadets to develop powers of leadership and to give them a basic knowledge of defence organization. There is also a lot of fun to be had, as well as interesting activities which they would otherwise not get a chance to participate in. The cadets undergo some section specific training together with outdoor activities, including the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Each section follows a syllabus laid down by the MOD and there is a balance struck between military, leadership and adventurous training, in essence between learning and fun. At the senior cadet level the emphasis is on giving valuable experience in leadership from their roles in both helping to manage their section and learning how to deliver training successfully to junior cadets. This gives senior cadets the opportunity to complete the required 50 hours of Activity and Service elements of the CAS programme required for the IB Diploma.There are three sections in the CCF, as follows:

Army section
Numerically largest, this section focuses more on field tactics and gives all cadets the opportunity to learn to handle weapons safely and subsequently fire them. Senior cadets have the opportunity to participate in practical courses in teaching junior cadets. The highlight is the summer camp at the end of the year.

RN section
This has a slant towards nautical matters and includes a significant amount of practical time sailing at Chipstead Sailing Club. Visits take place to Portsmouth where overnight navigation exercises occur together with visits to the Naval Base at HMS Collingwood as well as our parent ship, the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. Scuba diving is also available for cadets. 

RAF section
This concentrates on providing the necessary background to enable cadets to make the most of their opportunity to participate in Air Experience Flights, normally 1 – 2 times per year, in fixed wing trainers from RAF Wyton. There is also the occasional opportunity to experience gliding.

All new cadets joining the CCF complete a common four week training period which serves as an introduction to the three sections which culminates in an evening exercise. Cadets are then allocated to one of the three sections. This decision is primarily based on their first choice but, occasionally, it is necessary by virtue of staffing limitations to restrict numbers joining a particular section. During the rest of the Michaelmas term they will undertake expedition training geared towards the Duke of Edinburgh Award. They will begin their section specific training after Christmas.

The Ministry of Defence makes a significant contribution towards the running costs of the CCF. There is a joining charge of £100 which covers the cost of purchasing a pair of boots and a section sweatshirt and T-shirt as well as contributing towards the training budget for their time in the CCF. Thereafter costs are limited to a few events such as dinners and perhaps summer camp and these would be minimal. Whilst the majority of the CCF uniform is provided free of charge, there is a replacement charge for any items of clothing and equipment not returned or lost. It is essential therefore that all items are named as soon as issued to a cadet.

Contacts

Contingent Commander: Lt Col P Bassett prb@sevenoaksschool.org
School Staff Instructor: WO2 Henderson-Thynne kht@sevenoaksschool.org