The CCF is a unique educational partnership that operates in schools across the UK. Through enjoyable military themed and adventurous activities, cadets have the opportunity to take responsibility, develop skills such as leadership, self-reliance, resourcefulness, endurance and perseverance. CCF contingents promote the aims and values of the Army.
Training opportunities for cadets occur during weekly parades in school, whole day and weekend training periods (field days), at annual military camps, on courses run by the Armed Forces specifically for cadets and through adventurous training expeditions Cadets follow the syllabus appropriate to the section which includes drill, skill at arms and use of map and compass. Adventurous training opportunities include mountain walking, canoeing, gliding and offshore sailing.
Cadet Expansion Programme (CEP)
What is the CEP?
In June 2012 the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister announced the Government’s Cadet Expansion Programme (CEP) to increase the number of state funded schools with their own cadet force unit. The programme has been given £10.85 million by the Department for Education (DfE) and Ministry of Defence (MOD) so that more young people can benefit from the cadet experience in school, and to increase in the number of state schools benefiting from having a cadet force as part of school life.
The CEP is part of the Government’s aim of promoting military ethos in schools; to instil values in young people that will help them get the most out of their lives, and to contribute to their communities and country. This means pupils developing qualities such as self-discipline, loyalty and respect, strong leadership, teamwork and resilience which will help them achieve excellence and shape their own future. The programme focuses on Combined Cadet Force units ensuring that as many pupils from a state school have the chance to experience the life-enriching activities of military cadets as part of school life – this mirrors the military activity offered in many of the best independent schools in the country.
Holly Lodge School was successful in their bid to become one of the first CCF’s with the new CEP programme and began training their young people in September 2015. During the first half-term, the cadets have been issued army uniform, which they wear proudly on parade days. They have practiced marching as a group and standing to attention whilst being inspected each week. They have also had a taste of what they will do when they attend field days and camps. This included making themselves a shelter (basha) and cooking with an traditional army cooker.
Armistice Day 2020
On 11th November Holly Lodge School, held their Remembrance Parade. Usually a whole school affair, this year was scaled back for social distancing reasons, just involving the CCF and visitors.