FROM THE CONTINGENT COMMANDER 2023

The Combined Cadet Force at Repton School has a very long history, with its roots in the early 1900s as the Repton Officer Training Corps. We are one of very few CCFs who are entitled to wear our own cap badge on our navy berets.

Repton pupils, and sometimes staff, often have preconceived ideas of the Corps and resent the intrusion of the military, feeling that there is no place for such an organisation in a school setting. It can be tempting to think of the Corps as an unwieldy dinosaur with no relevance to the modern world. This, however, could not be further from the truth: on Wednesday afternoons you will see Cadets finding fun and enjoyment in the most unlikely places, with their faces covered in green paint or upside down in an RAF tutor plane! The purpose of the CCF is to provide challenge by choice opportunities for our young people, giving them experiences in activities which are not available in any other aspect of school life.

Summer Camp 2022 took place in Yardley Chase, and was written and executed by our team of dedicated and enthusiastic Cadet Force Adult Volunteers. Cadets from the Army and RAF sections were able to take part in a huge range of activities with the more senior cadets being able to use their new Cadet Force Instructional Techniques qualification.

Pupils often surprise themselves with how much they enjoy being part of the CCF and the experiences it gives. I think secretly they enjoy the formality of Drill; and watching the A Block bond as a House through the shared experience of Barnes Squad is so very satisfying as a member of staff. Being able to provide this opportunity has been one of the most worthwhile aspects of my job. There is no other activity in the School which offers our pupils a real opportunity to lead and teach, giving them something real to write about in their UCAS and an opportunity to develop as individuals. This precious organisation is to be cherished and protected and I am hopeful for the future of our Corps.

JMP

After not being able to go on Summer Camp for the past two years, my excitement for this one was high, especially as we were now the most senior cadets and would have more responsibility. With the group being split into sections, everyone had an opportunity to lead. I was given the role of platoon sergeant on the first two days, which was an amazing experience, allowing me to join every section and meet all the people from different years. But my favourite day was the 24-hour exercise. Going into camp it was the thing I was dreading the most: sleeping outside, ration packs and lots of walking were not what I was dreaming of for the first week of my holiday. However, it was so much fun. Doing a full platoon attack with blank rounds where I was section commander giving orders was one of my personal highlights. However, the times I remember best are the parts in between the activities: the waiting and chatting, the section handshake that one of the boys made all of us learn. These things made up for the rations and the sleeping outside. The party the night after the exercise showed how far the group had come in getting to know each other. Everyone sat together, without year-group divisions, and enjoyed the opportunity to play games and have fun. This mood carried on until the final day in the river. I am the only girl in my year who still does CCF and people often ask me why I carried on. The answer is easy: it’s because weeks like Summer Camp are experiences nobody else has, and ones that I think everyone should take advantage of.

Martha B (U6M)

In A Block I initially joined the RAF section because of the prospect of flying a plane - an incredible experience as I was able to perform aerobatics. At the end of the year my mum signed me up for Summer Camp. I was very reluctant to go as I felt I wouldn’t enjoy it and it would eat into my holiday. However, after just the first day I found it very enjoyable and became friends with many people who otherwise I wouldn’t have interacted with. My favourite part was the 24-hour exercise; not only did I get to camp out in the woods wearing full camo, but I was also able to carry my weapon all day rather than being restricted to only certain hours. This was a responsibility that I know many of us appreciated. The overall experience was unforgettable, and I am so glad I was signed up to go.

The progress I have made in CCF is shown by the fact last year I was being taught Barnes Squad and this year I got to lead my A Block through the whole day. While CCF wasn’t what I imagined I would enjoy at Repton, it is now one of the highlights of my time here and an activity I look forward to each week.

Charlie B (11N)

I have really enjoyed the challenges of CCF this term, including co-leading Abbey’s Barnes Squad group with Izzy O. Being given a leadership role was a fantastic opportunity and I loved supporting the A Block to their triumph in the competition. During my time in CCF I have been given many different chances to participate in activities such as field days, shooting, CFIT and first aid. I have learned so much this year and being a part of CCF has pushed me both as an individual but also as a team player.

Tilly C (11A)

Participating in Barnes Squad was the highlight of my year: working as a House in activities ranging from orienteering to archery was such an exciting challenge. Barnes Squad, and CCF as a whole, has taught me many different skills from first aid to the importance of working as a team - and so much more. The hours of practice put into learning the Drill sequence, often enduring some very wet sessions led by our O Block, brought us together as a House and provided plenty of laughs!

Christabel T (10A)

CCF has proved to be an extremely valuable experience at Repton for me, providing me with a wide range of opportunities to develop my leadership, teamwork, and discipline skills. Barnes Squad brought us closer together as a House and has given me team skills which I will carry forward into later life. My favourite part was the map skills because it taught me how to cope under time pressure and how to read a map. I enjoyed the Field Weekend in Michaelmas more than I was expecting, and we learned many new skills, including weapon training, first aid, camouflage and concealment. For me CCF has been a really fun experience.

Freddie N (10S)

One of the highlights of the year was our participation in the Remembrance Parade on November 11th. It was a solemn and poignant event, where we paid tribute to the fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives in service to our country. Our cadets, dressed in immaculate uniforms, marched in perfect synchrony down the High Street to St Wystan’s Church, displaying utmost respect for the occasion. It was an honour to lay wreaths on behalf of our unit and to be part of such a meaningful ceremony that honoured the sacrifices of previous generations.

Another notable event was our participation in a Guard of Honour for our distinguished guest, Air Commodore Purcell. A Silent Drill Team, led by Captain Smith, also performed a precise array of complex drill movements in a successful display of the result of weeks of practice. It was a memorable moment for our unit and an opportunity to represent our school and the CCF with pride.

Seb R (11P)