Wensleydale School CCF was established in 2019 under the Government’s Cadet Expansion Programme, and is currently the only state school within North Yorkshire County Council to have a CCF unit.
The CCF is affiliated with the Royal Artillery, and have links with the local Company based nr Catterick. Also, are members of Leyburn Royal British Legion. A link that was established in the Royal British Legion’s 100 year celebrations in 2023.
Cadets are able to take part in activities such as Fieldcraft, Command Tasks, Shooting, Navigation, Camp Craft, Bivi Building, and Community Engagement, as well as learning Drill, First Aid, confidence building, how to wear a cadet uniform and maintain it to a high standard. As cadets progress through their training they have the opportunity for promotion to Non Commissioned Officer Cadets, where they are given further training in classroom teaching and eventually take responsibility for teaching the younger sections.
Students from Y8 and above can join cadets as part of the schools’ enrichment programme, and attend twice a week. During the first term they are taught all the basics they need to know to become a ‘Basic’ level Cadet. Drill, Uniform, Rank Structure, Standards and Values, First Aid, Basic Fieldcraft, and Army Structure, they then take several simple assessments before being awarded their Beret and Badge.
Once qualified as a ‘Basic’ Cadet they then continue their training which ultimately finishes with a trip to Annual Camp, which is held at an Army Cadet Training Centre regionally, – usually different centres each year, where they take part in further Army Training, competitions, and a day out at Scarborough Water Sports Park finishes a very busy hectic week.
Becoming a cadet does not necessarily mean that joining the Army or other Services follows. It’s a great stepping stone should they wish to, but otherwise it’s the ‘ultimate youth club’, enabling the cadets to take part in all types of experiences, including bivi weekends, rifle training, expeditions, sailing, competitions, and all manner of courses depending on the individual cadets interests. The Army offer many of these opportunities at either very little cost, or completely free in most circumstances.
All courses / training events are run by qualified staff either from 4 Brigade Cadet Training Team, or qualified staff within school whom have all undergone the relevant training to become school Cadet Adult Volunteers.
All uniform and equipment that is required as a cadet will be issued to them free of charge on the understanding that should they choose to leave, it is returned in full. All cadets are required to attend school in CCF Uniform on parade days (Wednesday/Thursday).
The school’s CCF is currently supported by a School Staff Instructor who is in school on both parade days, and 4 Cadet Force Adult Volunteers from the school teaching staff, DBS checked local volunteers, the CCF Padre and 4 Brigade Cadet Training Team from Strensall in York.
Students who wish to join cadets need to express their interest at the beginning of term to Mr Barnett or 2Lt J Cooper who will then guide them through the process. Normal recruiting starts at the end of July, in readiness for a full year of cadet parades starting in September.
Should a cadet not enjoy staying within their unit, they have the option of leaving, which is very simply a case of changing their enrichment options and returning their uniform.
