Thriving initiative gets first visit from sponsored regiment
We are delighted that RAF Valley families are now using Rydal Penrhos as their chosen point of education. Many parents living and working at the Armed Force facility are forming a close bond with the school and it is something we take a great deal of pride in alongside our other community involvement.
One of the most popular extra-curricular schemes launched by Rydal Penrhos is the school’s Combined Cadet Force, which now has an ever-growing Army Section with over 50 cadets ranging from Year 8 right up to Year 13. Each pupil involved benefits enormously from a range of tasks, expeditions and other activities under the supervision of qualified staff, with the CCF going from strength to strength since its inception as a result.
Even with COVID-19 restrictions making things difficult over the last two years, the CCF group has still managed to progress effectively and hold activities under strict guidelines to ensure their development remained on track and targets could be met.
Cadets got the opportunity of another incredible experience recently with the first official visit of Rydal Penrhos’ sponsor regiment, the 1st Queen’s Dragoon Guards, on Tuesday 18 January.
The school was the first CCF group in the country to boast the QDG badge on their uniforms, and during the visit, there was a special presentation delivered by Troopers outlining their role within the British Armed Forces and involvement within the community.
This was followed by a session outside in the Memorial Quad, where cadets tried on official uniform, held some of the weapons typically used in battle and took part in a question and answer session with the Troopers in attendance.
This was a fantastic honour for our CCF initiative, which aims to promote the qualities of responsibility, self-reliance, resourcefulness and a sense of service to the community.
