New fund to expand cadet units in state schools
19 Jun 2014 11:16 AM
Government to kick-start
the scheme with a boost of £1 million.
Thousands of school pupils will
get the chance to be part of new cadet units thanks to a new £1 million
bursary scheme, the Prime Minister has announced.
The scheme will directly help
state schools with the running cost of a Combined Cadet Force (CCF) –
mixed cadet units based in a school – using money raised from banks
following the LIBOR scandal.
100 new cadet units by
2015
The government has committed to
set up 100 new cadet units by 2015 and while the set up costs will be covered,
schools have to fund running and staff costs as part of their curriculum
funding.
The new ‘Cadet Bursary
Scheme’ will help schools cover this cost, with new units given support
with their running costs and access to a roster of trained instructors. The
money will help fund activities including expeditions, first aid, sailing and
leadership training.
The £1 million from LIBOR
fines will be matched by private sector contributions, with £300,000
already committed from organisations and individuals. Further investment is
expected across all military cadet programmes over the next 4
years.
Helping young people develop
important skills
The government is keen to use
the cadet programme to give more young people the opportunity to learn about a
military ethos – self-discipline, teamwork, punctuality and
self-confidence.
The Prime Minister will meet
with potential supporters and up to 80 cadets at a reception at 10 Downing
Street this evening (18 June), which will include music from a cadet marching
band.
The Prime Minister
said:
Being a cadet is a fantastic
opportunity that gives young people the skills you need to get on in
life.
I want many more people to gain
this type of experience no matter what their background, and that is exactly
what this new funding will help deliver.
Education Secretary Michael Gove
said:
This is a ground-breaking
initiative to bring the benefits of cadet units to state school pupils. The new
cadet units will teach discipline, self-confidence and teamwork –
essential skills for succeeding in school and in life.
Thousands of children across
England can now benefit from the cadet experience, previously largely
restricted to independent schools.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond
said:
The Cadet Expansion Programme
will help schools sustain and grow cadet numbers to ensure that as many young
people as possible can benefit from gaining access to military themed
activities.
This will help more young people
develop important life skills such as leadership, self-reliance and endurance
whilst increasing their self-confidence so they can reach their full potential
at school at beyond.
Julie Taylor, Principal of
Thomas Deacon Academy in Peterborough, said:
Having a Combined Cadet Force at
Thomas Deacon Academy has significant benefits for our students. I am extremely
proud of how the CCFcontributes to the ambitious, disciplined culture
at TDA. We want to help other schools understand the benefits for young
people from a wide range of backgrounds and how the cadet experience can help
transform the ethos of a school.
Tom Conroy from Thomas Deacon
Academy said:
I enjoy the military experience
and the camaraderie of being part of a team. It is a different sort of
friendship. It influences how people behave in school; it teaches respect.
Being a cadet has helped me realise that I can meet any
challenge.
Megan Darbyshire, aged 14, from
Longhill School in Brighton said:
I like CCF because it
helps you understand leadership and improve skills that you would not normally
learn in school. I joined because I had friends who were doing it and had told
me how much they enjoyed it and I thought it would be good to learn some new
stuff. I am now more confident in making decisions and have a better
understanding about leading. I particularly like learning about survival skills
and first aid. In the CCF we are given more opportunities to take on
greater responsibilities than in any other part of school. We are given the
chance to lead and take control and are trusted to get on with
it.
Background
Research shows children who have
been cadets:
-
increase their academic
achievement and decrease anti-social behaviour through an improved
attitude
-
improve school attendance and
classroom behaviour
-
have higher self-esteem,
self-confidence and organisational skills
In addition to yesterday’s
announcement, the government is already investing £10.85 million over 3
years from 2012 to set up CCF units in state schools.
Yesterday’s announcement will provide further opportunities for schools
to set up units.
The government has committed to
100 new cadet units across state schools in England by September
2015.
CCF units already
established in state schools include:
-
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School,
in Kent, an all-girls unit of some 160 cadets
-
City of London Academy Islington
in North London, one of the first CCFunits established. Sponsored by the
Honourable Artillery Company, the school’s unit boasts more than 30
cadets
-
Brompton Academy in Gillingham,
Kent, due to begin parading this September with more than 40
cadets
By involving charities and
business in sponsoring cadet unit places, the initiative aims to create further
benefits for schools, such as mentoring and work experience
arrangements