Exeter School cadets enjoyed a memorable week of teamwork, challenge and adventure at the Inskip Cadet Centre, near Preston, joining pupils from five other schools for a week filled with exciting activities, new friendships and valuable life skills.
The annual multi-activity camp brought together 76 cadets from six schools, including Exeter School, King’s Worcester, King’s Chester, Birchwood High School, Churcher’s College and St Columba’s College. Led by Mr Smale as Camp Commandant, the week provided cadets with the opportunity to develop confidence, resilience and teamwork in a busy and supportive environment. Our 23 Exeter School cadets represented the school brilliantly throughout the week, embracing every challenge and making the most of the wide range of activities on offer.
After travelling to Inskip on Sunday, cadets settled into camp life with a familiarisation session and a series of icebreaker activities. These helped everyone get to know each other before the action-packed programme began. Throughout the week, cadets were organised into mixed flights alongside pupils from the other schools, encouraging collaboration, communication and new friendships beyond their own school communities. The sunshine stayed throughout the entire camp, creating perfect conditions for a week of outdoor activities and challenges.
Monday began with a full schedule of activities designed to test focus, coordination and courage. Cadets took part in air rifle training and target shooting, archery, a low ropes course, climbing and abseiling, flight simulators and drill practice. The day ended with a lively quiz, giving everyone a chance to relax and enjoy some friendly competition.
Tuesday brought further opportunities to develop precision and teamwork, with cadets experiencing target shooting with small bore rifles, semi-automatic M4 rifles, paintball and the DCCT laser range. The week’s official camp photograph was also taken, capturing the fantastic spirit of the group.
Wednesday focused on water-based challenges, with cadets taking part in kayaking, paddleboarding and raft building. These activities encouraged leadership, problem-solving and teamwork, followed by a competitive football session.
Thursday’s programme challenged cadets to use their navigation skills through orienteering and teamwork exercises. The day concluded with a drill competition, where cadets demonstrated discipline, cooperation and the skills they had developed throughout the week. These experiences are an important part of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) programme at Exeter School, helping pupils build independence, confidence and the ability to work effectively with others.
On Friday, cadets enjoyed a well-earned visit to Blackpool Pleasure Beach theme park before returning for the camp awards and social evening. The celebrations recognised the achievements of cadets throughout the week and brought the group together for a final evening of fun.
After packing up on Saturday, the cadets began their journey home, stopping at the RAF Museum Cosford for a fascinating visit before returning to Exeter.
The Inskip camp was a fantastic opportunity for Exeter School cadets to challenge themselves, learn new skills and form friendships with cadets from across the country. Their enthusiasm, teamwork and positive attitude throughout the week were a credit to the school. We are incredibly proud of how they represented Exeter School and look forward to seeing the continued development of their confidence and leadership skills through the CCF programme.
Well done to all our cadets for making the most of this unforgettable experience.
