All boys enter the Combined Cadet Force in the Summer Term
of the Fourth Form. They can choose from any of
the three
sections - Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.
They stay in their chosen service for at least four terms.
Thereafter,
they have the choice of remaining in the CCF or involving
themselves in Community Service or other Sixth Form activities.
Involvement in the CCF activities provides a huge range of
opportunities for all pupils including gliding,
flying, sailing, shooting, expeditions, overnight camps and
orienteering. Senior pupils complete the BTEC Diploma in
Public Services. The programme gives pupils
opportunities to develop self-confidence, initiative, a broader
awareness and maturity and also enables them to enjoy themselves
outside the classroom.
CCF Annual Inspection
The annual CCF Inspection took place on 20 September 2007.
Commodore Graham Peach, Royal Navy, was the Inspecting
Officer. The CCF Contingent Commander at St John's, Lt Col
Patrick Noble said: "Our cadets demonstrate
a range of skills and the whole day is a measure of our
depth
of commitment to the Combined Cadet Force."
St
John's Sailing
Click on the image above
CCF Annual Inspection
Day
Duke
of Edinburgh's Award Scheme
The
School runs the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme as an extra-curricular
activity. Boys can opt in the Lower Fifth Form to start
the Silver Award. In the Sixth Form, both boys and girls
can complete the Gold Award. To complete a level, pupils
must do a Service (either CCF or helping with the elderly);
a Skill (hobbies such as Photography or playing a musical
instrument); a Sport and an Expedition (the Silver Award
is in the UK, the Gold Award is usually further afield).
The purpose of the Award is to develop personal skills including
self-motivation and self-discipline; leadership qualities
through group work and expeditions; and to generate an awareness
of others through service. It requires a high level of commitment,
especially at Gold level, which is why universities see
it as a very positive recommendation on CVs.
2006/07 Duke of Edinburgh Recipients:
Gold
Silver
Bronze
22
2
42
Duke of Edinburgh's
Award Scheme
School
Charity 2007-08
Pupils
at St John's are to spend a year fundraising for a charity.
The Student Council has chosen AMECA as its nominated
charity for the School's fundraising efforts. AMECA was
founded in December 2006 by Ruth Markus, in memory of
her only child, Lt. Alex Coutselos,a doctor in the British
Army, who died on 15th October 2006, aged 23 . As Alex
was a pupil at St John's School 1996-2001 in Surrey House,
the pupils wanted to support the Charity in his name.
Alex's experiences in
Kenya, on operation with the British Army, had a profound impact on him.
The opportunity to make a difference to the lives of poor
and vulnerable people inspired a long-term determination to become involved
with such humanitarian work in the future. His untimely death has inspired
his mother to fulfil this dream by improving medical facilities in Africa. AMECA
seeks to raise funds to build, equip and maintain a district based educational
unit, as part of
a Centre for Rural Health in a small village
called Lehurutshe which is located in the North West Province in South Africa,
very close to the Botswana border.
St John's has an impressive charity fundraising
record having raised £15,000 last year
for the Leatherhead based charity, the Rainbow
Trust.
St John's Chaplain,
Father Ben Bentham, who leads the fundraising
initiatives, said: "We have
an extremely challenging year of fundraising
ahead but I am sure that
every member
of the St John's community will rise to the challenge."
Community
Service Unit (CSU)
The
Community Service Unit offers a wide choice of service to the
community and all members of the Sixth Form not already involved
in the CCF are encouraged to participate in the scheme. In addition,
students preparing for their Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh
will often fulfil their service requirements through a CSU placement.
Traditionally, we have provided help in local junior schools
and
visits to the elderly as well as producingThe Grapevine
magazine for the housebound. Recent developments include more ambitious projects such
as working with autistic children, providing classroom help at
a school for disabled children and providing home help for blind
people in the local area. We have also extended our work to help
develop computer skills amongst the elderly and are working closely
with Exonmobil to develop Community Service projects in the local
area.