Air Power 2017

21 ST CENTURY PARTNERSHIPS AIR POWER 2017 129

THE PERSONNEL

where the potential benefit is greatest, many will be
in areas of high deprivation and BAME populations.
Of those schools actively engaged in the approvals
pipeline, 51 of 67 are in areas of high/moderate
deprivation. Research conducted by the University
of Northampton Research, Impact and Enterprise
Department into the value of cadets to society shows
that structured extracurricular activities, such as
cadets, can help young people learn to control their
behaviour and build their confidence and respect
for others. A 2006 research report from the IPPR
persuaded a former head teacher of a tough inner-city
academy to set up a CCF in her school. In an interview
with the University of Northampton research team,
she reported the impact of the CCF contingent:
“Those highly structured uniformed extracurricular
activities, like... cadets can reinforce the feeling of
family and team in a school... improve attainment
by two to three per cent... these youngsters who left
10 years ago are writing about the impact it [cadets]
still has on them; to me that’s the test of any school
improvement initiative, not GCSE outcomes... some
youngsters will slip down and then come back, it’s
what’s in the core of them... the values and the
behaviours, it’s partly resilience, it’s character,
it’s determination, it’s all of those softer skills.”
Also, from staff at a recent CEP school with a CCF
(RAF) Section: “They love it when we get to fly, we
might get 10 trips up a year, and during school hours,
it’s brilliant... and [the] Duke of Edinburgh’s Award,
all for £200 a year including their kit, of course they
respond to that... and parents are very supportive, Pupil
Premium kids, Free School Meal kids, kids with special
needs, girls, boys, they all get a chance with cadets.”

INNER-CITY SQUADRON
An example from community cadets that has
had a demonstrable impact on social mobility is
Number 31 (Tower Hamlets) Squadron. Born out of the
London riots six years ago, it has grown into a thriving
unit with more than 100 cadets supported by 12
dedicated staff. The squadron is located in a challenging,
deprived high BAME area and has a high proportion
of BAME cadets, reflecting the local community.
The squadron is excelling; it was awarded the
Prime Minister’s Big Society Award in March 2015
and, in July 2016, the squadron received the Queen’s
Award for Voluntary Service. They also received
the Tower Hamlets Civic Award for Outstanding
Civic Service, awarded in recognition of attracting
cadets from all areas of the borough regardless of
background, bringing social cohesion to the unit. In
2016, the squadron was awarded the Lees Trophy
as the best of the 950 ATC squadrons in the UK.
The squadron is closely integrated into the local
community, from which it draws its cadets and

its volunteers. It has very close ties with local

industry and business and receive significant

financial support as a result. It provides a haven

of order and a focus for development in an

area of high deprivation, where teenage gang

membership and all that goes with it is can be seen

as the norm unless alternatives are available.

EVOLUTION OF THE ORGANISATION

The RAF Air Cadets was not formed to be an engine

of social mobility throughout the UK but, due to the

experience it provides, that is exactly what it has

become. Some would argue that this reflects the

very genesis of the Corps back in 1941, when young

men from every background were invited to train

with the ATC as a precursor for service with the RAF

in defence of the nation. That opportunity provided

thousands of young men with the chance to enhance

their life experiences, and the RAF Air Cadets is proud

to enable the current and next generation to achieve

similar life enhancements, be that within the armed

forces or any walk of life that a cadet may choose.

HEANOR GATE SCIENCE COLLEGE RAF CADET UNIT

“Opening a Combined Cadet Force (CCF) unit offers

great opportunities for students and staff to develop

in confidence, gain new qualifications and take part in

a wide range of activities and experiences that allow

everyone to grow,” explains Miriam Watson, Director

of Vocational Learning at Heanor Gate Science College

(HGSC). The Derbyshire-based school set up an RAF

contingent in September 2013 as part of the Cadet

Expansion Programme (CEP100) – a government-

sponsored scheme to help 100 English state schools

set up their own CCF units. Following rapid uptake, the

programme has now expanded into CEP500 with a £50

million funding stream across the United Kingdom.

“By being a member of the CCF, students have been able to take part in activities they would not

normally have been able to do such as flying and shooting. They have also been able to develop new

skills,” says Watson. “The HGSC cadets have also been shown a wider career path than they might

have anticipated. The opportunities afforded by the CCF to visit RAF stations and to have visiting

speakers has allowed the students to learn more about the careers available in the armed forces.”

However, the CCF is far from a recruiting sergeant. As Watson explains, “The majority of

our students have not chosen a career in the armed forces, but, thanks to the CCF, they are

better prepared to compete in the jobs market due to the transferrable skills that they have

developed.” A great example of this is the HGSC RAF cadet who has recently secured an

apprenticeship at Rolls-Royce as one of 30 successful candidates in a field of thousands.

Watson is thrilled by the progress of her cadets and encourages other schools to take part

in the scheme. “The gains made by the students academically and pastorally means

that this is an opportunity not to be missed.”

Cadets learn transferable

skills that prepare them for

employment (PHOTO: EAST

MIDLANDS RESERVE FORCES

AND CADETS ASSOCIATION)