Dallam School to establish Cumbria’s only RAF Combined Cadet Force
Dallam School is set to become the only school in Cumbria with a Royal Air Force Combined Cadet Force, creating a new programme of leadership, adventure and personal development for students.
The school is working with the Royal Air Force Air Cadets and the North West Reserve Forces and Cadets Association to establish an RAF Combined Cadet Force at Dallam. A team of Dallam staff volunteers will begin training this term, with the first students expected to join later in the academic year.
The RAF Combined Cadet Force will give students access to activities including aviation, flying and gliding, adventurous training, sport, first aid, navigation, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award activities and recognised qualifications.
Dallam’s location on the edge of the Lake District makes the programme a natural fit. The school already has a strong tradition of outdoor and adventurous education, and the CCF will build on that with practical activities that challenge students beyond the classroom.
Through these activities, cadets will be encouraged to develop leadership and teamwork skills, resilience and self-reliance, and a stronger sense of responsibility and service.
Recent research commissioned by the Ministry of Defence and the Combined Cadet Force Association has identified positive associations between school-based cadet forces and outcomes including confidence, resilience, practical and social skills, relationships and students’ sense of belonging.
Headteacher Steven Henneberry said:
“This is an exciting development for Dallam and, most importantly, for our young people. Becoming the only school in Cumbria with an RAF Combined Cadet Force gives us another way to broaden what students can experience at Dallam and help them discover strengths and interests they may not encounter in the classroom.
“Our school vision, ‘Belong here. Learn here. Thrive here.’ reflects the education Dallam provides: helping students achieve academically while also giving them opportunities to develop as people. The CCF fits naturally within that.”
The launch adds to the range of opportunities being developed at Dallam, including the school’s GT7 partnership, which is creating a sports-focused post-16 pathway combining academic study with high-quality football development.
