A new Army Cadet detachment has opened its doors to students from Cockshut Hill School, Ninestiles, an Academy, and Lyndon School. The Summit Learning Trust Rifles Detachment unit will be based at Ninestiles, an Academy, in Acocks Green, Birmingham.
The detachment – part of Warwickshire and West Midland (South Sector) Army Cadet Force (ACF) – will be cap badged as a Rifles unit, drawing cadets from across the Summit Learning Trust secondary schools and sixth form college.
The hard work has already started behind the scenes with Cadets joining in September 2023 and an official grand opening planned for June 2024.
The Summit Learning Trust family is currently made up of three secondary schools, four primary schools and a sixth form college educating almost 8,000 learners. All of their academies are located in the Birmingham and Solihull areas which allows them to work closely together for the benefit of all their children, young people and the communities they serve.
The Trust is relentless in their ambition for all their children and young people to make exceptional levels of academic progress and achieve strong portfolios of qualifications. Across Summit, their focus is on developing responsible, knowledgeable, highly skilled, global citizens who will have a positive impact on our communities now and in future years. They are developing their already established links with higher education establishments, local employers and charitable organisations to ensure that all their young people can benefit from these positive partnerships within their wider communities.
Colonel Delroy Tucker, Commandant of Warwickshire and West Midland (SS) ACF commented; “We are really pleased to be partnering with Summit Learning Trust, and together we can ensure their young people benefit greatly from joining our organisation. A recent national study by Professor Denny shows that being a Cadet increases a whole range of personal and interpersonal skills, developing enhanced self-efficacy that has long term benefits for the individual.
“The selection of a Rifles cap badge for the detachment is reflective of the opportunities available for support from the British Army’s largest Infantry Regiment. Their motto, “We are Swift and Bold”, is reflective of the assertive, can-do attitude we intend to instil in the Cadets. The new detachment Commander will be Lieutenant Wendy Barker, an experienced instructor, who has most recently been a Company Training Officer.
“The potential for this new unit, and the positive impact it can have on the lives of young people in our area, is untold, and once up and running it is likely to bring the number of Cadets in our County to 1,000. If the opportunities sound exciting, then great news – because we always have room for more Cadets and more Adult Volunteers. What a great time to be a member of this organisation and what a privilege to lead within it!”
Vince Green, Chief Executive Officer for Summit Learning Trust, commented; “This is an amazing development for Summit Learning Trust and will further enhance our strong relationship with and commitment to our Armed Forces community. The increase in ACF and Combined Cadet Force within state schools and colleges is having a positive impact on the wellbeing, ambition and academic outcomes of so many young people across our country. Learners from our secondary schools and college will now benefit greatly from the Summit Learning Trust Rifles Detachment.
“Huge thanks to colleagues from the West Midlands RFCA, Warwickshire and West Midland ACF, and to Colonel Tucker and Lieutenant Barker for giving young people from East Birmingham and Solihull this amazing opportunity.”
If you are interested in finding a cadet unit near you, you can visit https://www.wmrfca.org/find-a-unit to search in your local area.
Find out more about Summit Learning Trust and its academies.