South Cumbrian School To Launch County’s Only RAF Combined Cadet Force
A South Cumbrian school is preparing to launch a new RAF Combined Cadet Force designed to give pupils opportunities beyond the classroom.
Dallam School in Milnthorpe is working with the Royal Air Force Air Cadets and the North West Reserve Forces and Cadets Association to establish the new programme. Once launched, the school will become the only one in Cumbria to operate an RAF Combined Cadet Force.
The programme is being developed to provide young people with access to a broader range of activities and experiences. It will combine opportunities linked to aviation with outdoor pursuits, practical skills and personal development.
A team of staff volunteers at Dallam School will begin their training during the current academic term. Their preparation will help establish the foundations of the new unit before pupils begin taking part.
The first students are expected to join the Combined Cadet Force later in the academic year. The programme will therefore be introduced in stages as staff training progresses and arrangements are put in place for the young participants.
Aviation will form one of the areas available to pupils through the RAF Cadets programme. Students will also have opportunities to take part in outdoor and adventurous activities designed to develop practical abilities and confidence.
First aid will be another element of the programme. Learning first aid skills can provide young people with useful knowledge for dealing with emergencies while also contributing to wider personal development.
The cadet programme will also provide access to qualifications recognised through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. These opportunities will allow participating students to develop skills and experience that complement their academic education.
For Dallam School, the new Combined Cadet Force is intended to broaden the range of experiences available to its pupils. The school sees the programme as an opportunity for students to discover interests and abilities that may not emerge through conventional classroom learning.
Headteacher Steven Henneberry described the development as an important opportunity for the school and its young people. He said becoming the only school in Cumbria with an RAF Combined Cadet Force would give pupils another way to explore different strengths and interests.
The headteacher also linked the new programme to the school's wider educational approach. Dallam's motto, “Belong here. Learn here. Thrive here.” reflects its focus on academic achievement alongside opportunities for pupils to develop personally.
The Combined Cadet Force is expected to complement that approach by giving students access to activities outside the normal curriculum. Through the programme, pupils will be able to learn practical skills while taking part in structured activities alongside their education.
The involvement of staff volunteers will also be an important part of establishing the unit. Their training during the term will prepare them to support the programme and help create the structure needed before pupils begin participating.
The partnership with the Royal Air Force Air Cadets and the North West Reserve Forces and Cadets Association provides specialist support as the school establishes the new force. The organisations will work with Dallam as the programme moves towards its launch.
The arrival of the Combined Cadet Force will give pupils at the Milnthorpe school access to an opportunity that is currently unavailable through another school based in Cumbria. Its activities will add another option for students looking to develop interests outside traditional academic subjects.
The first pupils are expected to join later in the academic year once the staff training and preparations have progressed. Further participation will allow the school to develop the programme and establish its place within the wider life of Dallam.
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