Outdoor Education & CCF

Outdoor Education, fun and adventure outside the classroom

Fun and adventure outside of the classroom rarely feels like hard work and can leave students with lifelong memories. That is why we fully encourage utilising the great outdoors to experience and enjoy new activities and challenges.

From making the most of the school’s extensive outdoor facilities and indoor climbing wall, to exploring the local area and beyond, our activities and opportunities are designed to promote and develop wellbeing, students’ personal responsibility, resilience, decision-making and leadership skills, whilst highlighting the importance of collaboration and the wider benefits of working as part of a team.

These are essential skills that will serve students well during their continuing educational journey and their futures beyond Taunton School. The school enjoys an outstanding location nestled in the heart of Somerset, located on the doorstep of The Quantocks (AONB), whilst just a short drive away from Exmoor and the Blackdown Hills (AONB).

A wealth of opportunity and challenges

The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme is offered at all levels, with the whole of Year 9 participating at Bronze and over 80 students signing up to complete silver and gold awards in 2024. We facilitate the expeditions in house utilising our well qualified staff team and our extensive kit stores, delivering expeditions locally as well as on Dartmoor and the Black Mountains. Students are taught the necessary expedition skills to enable them to successfully complete the expedition section.

Every year we enter multiple teams in the Ten Tors Challenge, hosted by the Army on Dartmoor. We have enjoyed consistent success in equipping teams with skills and mindset to complete this most arduous of endurance challenges. Teams engage in a significant training and selection programme through the Spring term before being entered to the 35-, 45- or 55-mile challenge.

Climbing is offered throughout the year on our indoor wall, accessible through the Senior Games programme or our Horizons programme. Many students will also get the opportunity to climb through the CCF, with many also choosing to climb as an option at GCSE PE. Students engaging in the school climbing club can access the National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme, providing a pathway to developing skills and climbing confidence with a clear roadmap tracking and rewarding their progress.

One of the Largest Combined Cadet Force (CCF) in the Southwest

Our Combined Cadet Force is one of the largest contingents in the Southwest, with all students joining the CCF as cadets in Year 10, and many staying on to train to become a non-commissioned officer (NCO) during their Sixth Form years; with half of the entire Senior School engaging in CCF, it continues to be central to the co-curricular life at Taunton School.

Students are given the choice of joining either the Royal Navy or Army, where they engage in service specific activities devoted to developing the core principles of the CCF:

Leadership, Resourcefulness, Self-Discipline, Perseverance, Self-Reliance, Endurance, Responsibility, Resilience, Adventure, Teamwork, Friendship, and Communication. Cadets in Years 10 and 12 attend a week-long residential at Okehampton Camp and HMS Raleigh during the Summer Term, with a wide range of skills tested in context with a Contingent Commander’s Cup and service specific exercises.

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Field training exercises and leadership courses

We also run two field training exercises every year for the senior cadets, highlights of which have recently included Royal Navy Cadets visiting flying squadrons at RNAS Yeovilton and the Damage Repair Instruction Unit at HMNB Devonport. Army Cadets have trained at the Urban Warfare Facility at Copehill Down, also conducting live firing at Wilsworthy Range. Our CCF have been privileged to participate in visits from the Royal Air Force’s 29 Squadron who have brought Chinook helicopters to school, with Senior Cadets getting the opportunity to participate in an Air Experience Flight around the local area at night.

CCF activities are encouraged and heavily sponsored by the Ministry of Defence. This means that all CCF cadets can apply to undertake Adventurous Training and Leadership Courses, such as sailing, climbing, mountaineering, and scuba diving, many of which award nationally recognised qualifications, with all heavily subsidised.

The CCF participates in biennial inspections, with the most recent led by the Head of the Submarine Service, Commodore Paul Dunn OBE.

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