Year 9's are encouraged to get their CCF applications from Mr Craddock for joining the 2012-2013 programme. Further details can be found here: CCF Poster 2012-2013

The aim of the CCF is to help students develop self-reliance, initiative and leadership.

The Corps consists of three sections The Royal Navy, The Army and The Royal Air Force. Bedford's Corps is one of the largest in the country with 300 students from Harpur Trust School's.

Each section specialises in training applicable to the service that they are linked to. The main emphasis for the Navy is diving, sailing, power-boating, navigation and adventure training. The RAF fly in both gliders and light aircraft and also train in applicable ground subjects whilst the Army syllabus is based mainly on outdoor "field" activities such as weapon training, shooting, map reading and field-craft. All new recruits follow a training programme in drill, weapon training, map reading and first aid to prepare them for the various activities ahead.

Pupils take part in central summer camps which are attended by several other CCFs from all over the country and also have an opportunity to go on training weekends.

On 2nd - 11th April 2011, Bedford Academy students Hareece Dadhira, Carlos Amartey, Akritti Masih and Temillade Adegoke took part in the first of many CCF Adventure Training camps in Kinlochleven (Scotland) accompanied by Mr Craddock.

During their training week, the students completed three activities: Boating, Walking and Canoeing. Despite the inclement weather, the students were fantastic and all really enjoyed their week in Scotland, which they termed, “a week to remember for the rest of our lives”.

Billy Kell (Year 10) has provided the following written account to explain the field trips that CCF enrichment students get to take part in throughout the year.

On 9th March 2012, the CCF left Bedford School to spend two nights at Swynnerton Army base. When we arrived at the training area at 8pm, we were immediately given rounds to load into our rifles before setting off on a four-mile patrol to set up our 'bashers' (camp for the night). On the way there we were ambushed four times; during each ambush we had to call in smoke mortars so that we could run from the oncoming fire. When we did get to the camp we got attacked twice during the night. After that we had to change camp because the enemy knew where our camp was based.

Next morning, I spotted three men approaching our camp: I called for backup. We were about to open fire on them when we realised that they were seven British Army soldiers training in the same area; we left before they shot at us and moved to the harbour area (camp). Here the Army were testing explosive devices so we moved out of the blast zone and set up camp about fifty-meters outside of the zone. When we began our day's patrol, we set up O.P points scouting to find where the enemy camp was; this was a success as we found their camp and their water supply. With this information we set up an ambush in the middle of the night and defeated the enemy. We then quickly moved back to our harbour area and set up an all-round defence. 

After a fretful sleep, we moved the whole platoon to Camp Three where we were attacked by a large scale ambush that had lay in wait for us. Having survived their mortar attacks, we arrived at Camp Three just after dark and rested for the night. We planned a section attack on the enemy harbour area, which was successful as we captured the enemy and took over their area.

Overall, it was one of the best school trips I have ever been on and I would recommend joining the CCF to any Year 9 student; it is amazing fun!