Combined Cadet Force and Duke of Edinburgh Awards

Combined Cadet Force (CCF)

The CCF aim is to enable the development of personal responsibility, leadership and self-discipline. Each CCF is an educational partnership between the school and the Ministry of Defence. Plymouth College CCF has Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force sections.

CCF units in schools give young people the life skills and self-confidence to take charge of their lives so they can reach their full potential at school and beyond, including in employment.

Each section engages in their own service training and all cadets can participate in a wider range of adventurous activities including flying, gliding, sailing, shooting. As part of the national CCF community there are opportunities to attend all forms of cadet activities both in the UK and overseas.

At Plymouth College the CCF is for Y10s and above. It is not compulsory but any cadet who joins is required to maintain the standards expected when wearing uniform. The CCF staff is made up of volunteers, ex regular personnel, currently serving reservists and school staff. This depth of knowledge and experience gives the cadets the support required if they later apply for military scholarships or bursaries.

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Plymouth College runs all three levels of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award; Bronze, Silver and Gold.

It is a fantastic, pupil-driven opportunity which can be a key differentiator in interviews for university and jobs in life beyond Plymouth College.

We are fortunate to have time set aside for this in the school timetable and on

Friday afternoons we support pupils with their Award. Broadly, the Award requires young people to participate, for one hour a week, in a skill, volunteering and physical activity. We find that many Plymouth College pupils already complete at least two of these activities, and are able to slot a third into their schedule. Friday afternoons are given over to supporting pupils through the administration of the award, and training them for their expedition.

For Bronze, pupils either journey on the South West Coast Path, or head to Exmoor to tackle Dunkery Beacon. Silver pupils head to the Brecon Beacons for their expedition and for Gold we open up the possibility of biking, canoeing or sea kayaking alongside walking expeditions. In the past Gold expeditions have headed to the Lake District, the Netherlands and the river Wye.

Expeditions are usually run in the holidays, and Gold pupils also need to undertake a five day, four night residential.