Building self-assurance and encouraging personal growth are priorities at Gresham’s, and our Combined Cadet Force (CCF) Contingent is just one way we seek to challenge our pupils in these areas.
Our CCF focuses on cultivating resourcefulness, responsibility, perseverance and other lifelong attributes while shaping confident and enthusiastic leaders who are not afraid to tackle life’s challenges.
The CCF provides pupils with lots of opportunities to develop self-reliance, leadership, teamwork and discipline. They can join Royal Navy, Army or Royal Air Force sections which provide experiences as diverse as learning to fly, in addition to having the opportunity to fly in RAF aircraft alongside experienced RAF pilots, sailing, shooting, sports, music, survival skills, rock climbing, engineering projects, kayaking, first aid, navigation and challenges both intellectual and physical. There is also a strong relationship between the CCF and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme with a wide range of expeditions undertaken each year.
The school has access to superb on-site and local facilities to support training activities including its own shooting range, vehicle workshops and woodland activity centre. In addition to the many qualifications gained through the Proficiency, Advanced and Leadership specifications followed through CCF training sessions, there is also a wide range of camps and courses available for all those who are members of the CCF. These give additional exciting opportunities through access to substantial MOD provision as well as an insight into military life for those who are interested in a service career.
Our CCF contingent helps pupils to realise and work towards their full potential in an atmosphere which embraces friendship and fun.
ALUMNI
Major General Patrick Marriott
Farfield 1976
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the CCF. Looking back I can see it taught me many lessons but one, in particular, stands out. It was the first time when the occasional promotion put me in charge of my friends and I found myself having to either pass on or to make the odd decision with which they did not wholly agree with. Then, of course, I had to lead them through it. That is never easy. It was an early test of moral courage. I think I sometimes got that right and, sometimes, I did not. But it was a start.”