Co-Curricular: Combined Cadet Force

Updated: Thu 23 Aug 2012  

"This was a most spectacular day and such a refreshing change to engage with such a vibrant, energetic and committed group of cadets. The School is intensely proud of the CCF and its achievements. The Royal Navy, Army and RAF all have a packed programme and an impressive list of recent achievements. Their approach, standards and vision is first class."

Inspecting Officer, Group Captain Turner- Royal Air Force

2011 AGI

"Whitgift CCF is fantastic... My overall impression was of a motivated organization

run with enthusiasm and a real sense of team spirit"

General Sir Peter Wall, KCB, CBE and Chief of the General Staff

2012 AGI

Whitgift has a well-established Combined Cadet Force that contains elements of all three services.

The aim of the force is to offer boys physical and mental challenges combined with a sense of fun and adventure in a safe and disciplined environment.

Above all the ultimate aim is to help them to develop self-reliance, confidence and leadership and to fulfill their full potential outside the class room.

The Army provides the largest CCF section at Whitgift (250 boys in 2010) followed by the RAF (100) and Royal Navy (75) and the three services offer a number of activities including shooting on the range, tank driving, hill walking, gliding, canoeing, sailing, diving and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

The school has partnerships with two local maintained sector schools, allowing their students to take part in CCF activities.

Highlights in recent years have included a visit to the 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in Germany, the chance to board a nuclear submarine at RN Base Faslane, spending a week at sea on HMS Iron Duke, a week at the Royal Marine Commando training centre and organising adventurous training in Iceland, the Lake District, as well as climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

The highlight of the year, however, is the annual inspection often conducted by a senior officer, who has regularly been a distinguished Old Whitgiftian who has risen to prominence in the armed forces.

While Whitgift has a long military tradition, the CCF is not designed to recruit for the armed forces. Nevertheless, some boys choose a life in the forces and many of those have won Service Scholarships and gone on to join the regular services as officers.