Combined Cadet Force (CCF)

The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) was established in 1948 and incorporated school cadet units from all of the armed forces.  Historically CCF Contingents were only present in independent schools but the Cadet Expansion programme which was established in 2012 allowed state schools to establish their own contingents with funding and support from the MOD.  There are now CCF contingents in over 400 secondary schools all over the UK, offering young people a broad range of challenging, exciting, adventurous and educational activities. The aim of the CCF is to enable the development of personal responsibility, leadership and self-discipline giving young people the life skills and self-confidence to take charge of their lives so they can reach their full potential.

Stamford Welland Academy CCF was established in September 2019, initially with an army section but there are plans to expand this in the coming years to also include an RAF section. 

The SWA CCF has gone from strength to strength since it was established. Our dedicated adult volunteers have undertaken considerable amounts of training to enable us to deliver the full programme of cadet activities, including training students to use the L98A2 Cadet GP Rifle, establishing an air rifle range on our school premises and the use of paint ball weapons to practice our field craft skills.

Our first group of cadets have now completed their basic syllabus and we have been very proud to be able to promote our first Lance Corporals. 

The CCF syllabus covers Drill and Turnout, Navigation, Fieldcraft, Skill at Arms, First Aid, Shooting, Adventurous Training, Community Work, Expeditions and Annual Camp.  The CCF has a parade night each week during term time on a Thursday evening.  There are number of weekends organised throughout the year covering aspects of the syllabus.  We also carry out community activities such as supporting the local rotary club with bag packing.

Students are able to join the CCF from Year 8 onwards and can continue to attend until they reach the age of 18 if they go to local colleges.  They are provided with a full uniform by the MOD and we have a wide range of equipment that cadets are able to use for outdoor activities.  Annual camp and training weekends are subsidised by the MOD so we are able to carry out activities at a much lower cost to the cadet than if we were to run these activities as a regular school trip.

We ran our own annual camp in 2021 alongside the Stamford Endowed Schools CCF and are very much looking forward to being able to resume our adventurous training activities later in the year.