CCF
The King's School CCF is one of the most successful in the country. It has two sections; Army and RAF, and is open to boys and girls from Shells and upwards.
The CCF meets every Friday after school and is run by both CCF teaching staff and CCF outside instructors. The aim of the CCF is to develop qualities of leadership, self-discipline and self-confidence through a wide range of activities.
Students are able to compete in both Army and RAF national competitions, which the King’s School has been successful in many times. Recent triumphs include the awarding of flying scholarships to five King's students - see below.
Future events
Download a list of CCF events for September 2009 to September 2010.
Information letter about forthcoming events
Parental Consent Form for new recruits
Parents of those who would like to join the CCF should download and complete the parental consent form.
CCF Annual Dinner, September 2009
The dinner waas attended by officers and cadets of the contingent and their families, together with the Headmaster and Chairman of the Governors. The guests of honour were the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress.
CCF Army Section Annual Camp - July 2009
Albums of photos
- adventure training
- command skills and leadership
- orienteering
- watersports and archery
- military skills and shooting
CCF Band visit to London 24-26 August 2009
On the 24th of August, 9 members of the King's School CCF Band set off on a trip down to London, accompanied and chauffeured by Captain Joseph. The minibus was packed full of instruments, food, music stands and uniforms ready for the hectic schedule that lay ahead of us.
After a good run down the M1, we arrived at our accommodation, a TA centre in Blackheath. We were made very welcome and rapidly unpacked the minibus. The next stop was the station and with one change on the underground we were at St John's Wood station, very close to the base of the Horse Guards, which is where we were heading. When we arrived, we were given a very jolly greeting by RQMS Stewie Smith, who gave us a complete tour around the Horse Guards' barracks. Having started off with a bit of regimental history, we then learnt all about the horses and visited the stables and training ground, next saw the ceremonial guns and finished off in the museum. This was a very fun way to spend the first day down in London.
We made our way home to Blackheath via the underground and DLR respectively. Whilst traversing the terrain between the station and our base, we stopped off at a restaurant where service was very good and food was plentiful, to say the least. After making a note to stop off there again, we finally made our way back to the TA centre and most of us, very tired after the travelling, dropped off to sleep.
The following day commenced with a very early wake-up call. After breakfast we put on our school uniform and again strolled down to the station. On the way, we were identified as King's School pupils by a mother of two ex-students, so apparently we weren't totally alone in the foreign territory. We shortly arrived in the centre of London and as our next appointment was not until 09.30, about an hour away, Captain Joseph gave us a tour around the centre of London, seeing the main sights.
After finishing the tour very conveniently in St James's Park, we went to see the band of the Scot's Guards. We were met at Wellington Barracks and given a warm welcome by Sgt Tony Furzey of the band. We received a short talk and itinerary for the day, before making our way down to Buckingham Palace to see The Changing of the Guards. Sgt Furzey knew the best positions to watch guard mount from, having participated in the ceremony many times himself.
Lunch was provided for us at Wellington Barracks and then we were given a longer presentation by the Scot's Guards covering all aspects of being a professional musician and about the corps of army music. To complete the afternoon, we participated in a ‘London Duck Tour’ – a tour in an old World War 2 amphibious landing craft, which starting off looking around the city on the roads with a very spirited tour guide before diving into the river allowing us to see the city from a new perspective. This was thoroughly enjoyed by everybody.
Again, we travelled back to base in Blackheath and had a band practice before returning to the same restaurant we had visited the previous evening. Back at the barracks, some of us got far too over-enthusiastic about shoe polishing. When you could see yourself in everybody's shoe leather, we went off to sleep.
The following morning we performed a final kit check and had a last band practice before setting off in our minibus heading towards the centre of London. Having taken full advantage of the excellent parking facilities on the forecourt of Wellington Barracks, someone very kindly walked over to open the gate to the square outside the Guard's Museum and Guard's Chapel, where we were to be performing. We downed some lunch and got our instruments out to play. We attracted lots of tourists as well as two ex-guardsmen who listened to our performance passionately. The band played for two approximately twenty minute sessions and then, keen to avoid the rush hour around Birmingham, we loaded up the minibus for the final time and headed off home.
This trip was the first of it's kind for the CCF band. Everyone had a thoroughly enjoyable time and not one person went home without a smile on their face reflecting on the experiences of the previous days. We look forward to doing the same sort of thing again in the future: next year we hope to head up north to Edinburgh to play some part in the 2010 tattoo.
Chester Cadet Gains Duke of Westminster Award Prize
24 June 2009 - Today the outstanding achievements of 17 year old Chester cadet Elizabeth Anderson (known as Libby) were applauded at the annual Duke of Westminster Awards Ceremony for CVQO (The Cadet Vocational Qualification Organisation). Libby is a Cadet Company Sergeant Major at King’s School CCF (Combined Cadet Force).
At the ceremony and luncheon at the Cavalry and Guards Club in London, Libby was presented with the Directors’ Award for her commitment to others both within and outside the cadet organisation.
The prestigious Duke of Westminster Award is an annual competition organised by CVQO to recognise the most outstanding cadet from four cadet forces: the Combined Cadet Force, the Sea Cadet Corps, the Army Cadet Force and the Air Training Corps.
Libby was one of five prize winners selected from 215 nominated cadets from across the UK for her leadership qualities. She has a long list of cadet achievements, not just becoming a marksman, but also training other cadets in this skill. She plays a strong part in her local community including as a ‘Young Leader’ in her local guide unit and running coaching classes in Lacrosse for the younger students at her school.
Initially joining because she thought it was a good way to meet new people, Libby enrolled on the BTEC First Diplomas in Public Services and Music through CVQO. “I saw the programme as a great opportunity to further my qualifications in a way not otherwise available,” she said. “This award has added a whole new dimension to BTEC and cadets in general and I am very proud.”
Following the presentation Libby, together with four other prize winners, visited 10 Downing Street, later returning to the Cadet Training Centre in Frimley, Surrey. From here tomorrow (Thursday 25 June) with nine cadet runners-up, she departs for a three week expedition to South Africa where they will undertake an environmental awareness course in Kwa Zulu Natal and a cultural project working with and teaching orphaned children. In addition they will visit Rorkes Drift, Isandlwana and take part in a walking safari.
“I am happy that everyone is so proud and pleased for me. It’s a great thing to be involved in,” said Libby at the London ceremony.
CCF Exercise Long Stag 15-16 May
After school on Friday (15 May) 27 army cadets boarded a coach heading for The Dale Camp for an overnight exercise. On arrival we gained a brief introduction to conditions as a gentle rain started. By the time pre-exercise safety briefs, battle preparation and orders had been given the heavens had truly opened and all cadets were garbed head to toe in waterproofs.
The platoon commander selected an appropriate harbour area and after a snap ambush and thorough clearance patrols the section commanders were given orders for a series of reconnaissance patrols as the rest of the cadets got some much needed warm food. At 2100 the first patrol left the harbour followed at hourly intervals by the other two sections. Some excellent patrolling skills were demonstrated by the cadets with careful movement, hand signals and use of cover giving an almost invisible approach to the enemy. After the patrols were completed the (deeply unpopular!) decision was made to stop the exercise for the night time hours due to the foul weather and cadets retired to a warm building for the remainder of the night.
The following morning at 0545 cadets were awoken and re-entered a tactical phase of the exercise by occupying the patrol harbour again. After breakfast cadets moved to be given orders by the platoon commander for a hasty attack on a series of enemy positions. By 0730 cadets were advancing to contact and came under enemy fire around ten minutes later. A brief attack was followed almost immediately by a second contact and shortly after by a third. The third attack was lead by L/Cpl Max Imfeld who boldly lead his section in an attack through 4 foot high nettles and brambles; that he commanded the shortest section by far made this a particularly courageous (General Hague style leadership!) attack.
The battle won cadets retired to a sheltered area to clean weapons and celebrate the birthday of L/Cpl Victoria Anderson who turned 15 on the exercise with some much appreciated cake.
Exercise Easter Assault 14-17th April
46 King’s School Cadets took part in the CCFs annual Easter Camp. The students took part in a 4 day training programme which included in barracks weapons training, live firing, drill, tactics and fieldcraft. Cadets then put all these skills (except the live firing!) into practice on a 24 hour exercise. This started off with a tough three mile patrol with full CEMO (Complete Equipment Marching Order –i.e. full packs!) Students then established a tactical patrol harbour area before conducting a series of ambush and reconnaissance patrols at night. Conditions that night were appalling seeing most cadets thoroughly drenched – despite this morale remained high throughout. The following day saw a series of platoon level attacks conducted under the command of the Cadet CSM Libby Anderson.
The camp was a through success and despite having a very young group of cadets and foul weather throughout, the standards achieved were very impressive. The next exercise will be a leadership development camp on May 15-16th and will be aimed at cadets looking for promotion.
Exercise First Steps, 13th March 2009
34 army cadets deployed on Exercise First Steps after school on Friday 13th March. Most of these were new recruits from the Shells and therefore this was their first time on exercise with the CCF. Cadets started off by erecting shelters and cooking dinner; the former consisted of a poncho strung between two trees and the latter was vacuum packed 'boil in the bag' rations. After this feast the cadets conducted some night time activities including a reconnaissance patrol, a camouflage lesson and an observation lesson.
At about 1130 the cadets were returned to their shelters for bed. A windy night and a spot of rain made conditions interesting, but I have it on good authority that most cadets got at least one hour of sleep! In the morning after a self prepared breakfast (more 'boil in the bag') some leadership tasks were conducted and then the senior cadets then gave them a first rate demonstration of a section attack. After practicing these drills for about one hour we returned the exhausted cadets to their parents for some sleep.