Ten Fourth Year cadets showed excellent initiative, teamwork and determination as they represented Pocklington School at a STEM-themed Leadership Challenge weekend at the Ministry of Defence Sixth Form College in Leicestershire.

The weekend was designed to test the fitness, communication skills and resourcefulness of cadets, with particular focus on science technology, engineering and mathematics. Our team, drawn from both the Combined Cadet Force and Army Cadet Force contingents, was one of 23 chosen from 60 teams who applied to take part in the annual event. Contingent Commander Captain Sam Cheadle reports:

“We travelled down to Welbeck on Friday 20th March after school and set up our camp on the Welbeck playing fields. Saturday morning was an early start, we were up and out by 5.45 and we spent the morning working with Bloodhound supersonic car, learning about the current project of building a car capable of achieving 1000 mph and then designing and building our own rocket car out of K’Nex for the competition element of the stand.

The afternoon quickly became more physical and we dominated the orienteering and obstacle course with Pock determination and enthusiasm. We also took part in two command tasks, one of which was in the swimming pool where we avoided killer whales and sharks to complete the task. We built and drove a go-kart with REME, and shot on the indoor clay pigeon range. In the evening, there was a quiz and a social, both quickly followed by a huge thunderstorm. Thankfully, our tents kept us dry overnight.

On a now glorious Sunday morning, we took a tour of Welbeck College, attempted a climbing wall activity and faced a first aid scenario that included dealing with missing limbs. We finished the morning and the weekend with the trim trail and a minefield command task.

The team were outstanding all weekend and were a true credit to the CCF and their school. The teamwork and camaraderie were fantastic and didn’t dip below excellent. The feedback from the Welbeck staff and cadets attached to the team was that they were so impressed with how well our team worked together and how much they had enjoyed supporting them.

Sixty teams applied to take part in the weekend and out of the twenty-three that were selected, I am delighted to say that we finished in third place. What an achievement!”

The team were: Henry Kay; Bob Clark; Ed Hasdell; Harry Jones; Lukas Bradshaw; Tom Kirby; Grace Beckett; Emma Sweeting; Millie Addinall; Gabbie Innes.

 Supported by Capt Cheadle and Lt Clark