ccf

THE SKINNERS’ SCHOOL CCF

The Skinners’ School CCF has played an important part in the life of the school for over 100 years now. It is one of the oldest CCFs, founded in 1901 as an Officer Training Corps, being one of only 61 Contingents to be found in Maintained Schools, out of a national total of 261.

 
Colour Party on TA Parade in Tunbridge Wells, October 2008

Significant support is provided by the MOD, who see it as providing a disciplined organisation for young people in which they can develop powers of leadership, by means of military-style training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self-reliance, resourcefulness, endurance and perseverance, and a sense of service to the community. It also offers a valuable insight into the role and function of the Armed Forces for those who may wish to make it a career.

At Skinners’ the CCF comprises just an Army Section; in many other contingents all three services are represented. At present there are 205 cadets on the roll, of whom around 60 are Sixth Formers. From January 2009 the Contingent has further expanded by taking in girls from Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School, as well as a member of staff; the girls currently number about 35.  The girls join all the regular Friday afternoon parades, Weekend Exercises and Camps; seven of them joined us at Warcop for Annual Camp in July 2009 and it is expected that more will be at Wathgill in July 2010.

Entry takes place at the end of Year 9, initial participation being for two years (to the end of Year 11). In this time the great majority acquire their APC (Army Proficiency Certificate), usually allied with another specialism such as Advanced Infantry, Engineers or Signals.

Typically, around a third of each year’s entry then agrees to continue for a further two years by becoming a Cadet NCO. It is at this stage that cadets undertake a Method of Instruction course (delivered by Regular Soldiers who are members of Cadet Training Teams), which enables them to take on much of the internal organisation and the instruction of younger cadets.

A number of cadets find that service in the CCF usefully complements the work they do elsewhere in the school as members of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. In addition, membership of the CCF, allows Year 12 pupils to supplement their CV by taking on the B-Tec award – a national qualification equivalent to 4 GCSEs at level A-C, which seeks to recognise much of the time spent and training undertaken within the CCF.

 

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Lt J R Flanders – Old Skinner and former Cadet Warrant Officer – now a post-doctoral student at Bristol University. Jon takes part in all out-of-school training, including Adventurous Training, Annual Camp and cadet competitions.

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Lt I A Kelso – former member of Canadian Reserve Forces, now teaching RE and Latin. Recently transferred from Surrey ACF, where he gained considerable experience of cadet training.

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2 Lt A Reynolds (Ms) - from TWGGS, where she teaches Economics – a New Zealander, now resident in the UK.  She joins the girls from TWGGS who have recently become members of the Contingent.

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On the Signals Training Day

 

 

Messing about on the water, aka Watermanship Day

 

         

         Rock climbing on Borrowdale Slabs

 

 

Getting down to it - Obstacle Course competition

 

 

ADVENTUROUS TRAINING – a week spent on Dartmoor during the Easter holiday. Training is non-military, comprising map & compass, hill walking, camping, expedition work, rock climbing. Available only to Junior NCOs, numbers attending are usually 12 – 16.

                       

COURSES

A wide range of courses, largely funded by MOD, are available to cadets from Year 11 and above. These include Signals, Leadership, PT, Rock Climbing, Cooking, Parachuting, Kayaking.