FUTURE OF ARMY CADETS IN HADDINGTON OPEN LETTER FROM HEAD TEACHER OF KNOX ACADEMY AND COMMANDER 51 (SCOTTISH) BRIGADE 4@ December 2009 Over the course of the last year we have jointly explored the various challenges of developing and sustaining a Combined Cadet Force (CCF) Contingent at Knox Academy. Although the Contingent has a long and proud history - they celebrated their Centenary in 2008 - the Contingent has faced a number of challenges over the last few years. ACCF Contingent is an Educational Partnership between the Ministry of Defence and a Head teacher, and the Head teacher is effectively the de facto Commanding Officer of a Contingent. During discussions, we recognised the continuing challenge in recruiting enthusiastic and committed CCF staff from within the body of school staff. Also, it has become clear that the issue of storing and training with the Cadet Rifle on school premises is beyond resolution. This suggests a continuing challenge to develop and sustain a CCF under current arrangements. Therefore, we have come to the reluctant conclusion that Knox ‘Academy can no longer sustain the Partnership and the Head teacher has applied to the Joint Cadet Secretariat for the Contingent to close. Against this background, we have looked at the option of establishing an Army Cadet Force (ACF) detachment in Haddington - rather than the Academy retaining its own CCF contingent. If the Lothian and Borders Battalion (L&B Bn) ACF could be persuaded to draw the Knox Academy Cadets under their wing, then we would continue to offer the young people of Haddington most of the opportunities offered by the CCF, albeit outside of school We feel that this sort of arrangement might allow expansion of the opportunities available and might even lead to increased cadet membership. Given the school's catchment, an ACF detachment in Haddington would, in effect, recruit from the same pool as Knox Academy. Already, Knox Academy participates in a number of ACF activities (alongside L&B Bn) and they have already made the decision to drop the CCF syllabus, in favour of the more flexible ACF modelWe are ever conscious of the Knox Academy pedigree in the CCF, and the school's unique Position of being the only state school in Scotland with a CCF contingent. Having discussed the challenges with East Lothian Council, Scottish Government and the MOD, they have all agreed that this had to be a decision for the Head teacher, in consultation with the MoD. From our joint perspective, we believe all parties will be reassured that, under our proposals, the young people of Haddington will continue to be offered the ‘Cadet Experience’. Perhaps we might even consider naming the new detachment “Haddington (Knox) Detachment, Lothian and Borders Battalion, Army Cadet Force" to allow the school to retain its association with the cadets in Haddington. There are two key ‘enablers’ that will drive the success or failure of this proposal - and we are now looking for your support. The first requirement is to recruit voluntary youth leaders into the ACF to look after the new Detachment, which we hope will continue under current leadership. Secondly, Lowland Reserve Forces and Cadets (L RFCA) need your help in identifying, and securing a suitable location within Haddington for the ACF Detachment to train on a weekly basis throughout the year, and ideally store a limited quantity of drill purpose weapons and other equipment. We believe it would be helpful to run a briefing and Q&A session in the New Year in order to enlist your support for the new venture. The details of this meeting will be confirmed in ef Head (bacher Knox Academy CCF January, Copy to: Lord Lieutenant of East Lothian DCDS (Pers) - for AD Youth and Cadets, Reserve Forces and Cadets Division HQ 51 (Sc) Bde - (3) for Comd, SO1 CE and S02 Media Ops East Lothian Council - (3) Provost Sheena Richardson, Cllr Peter Mackenzie (Education and Children’s’ Services) and Don Ledingham Esq (Director of Education and Children's Services) Lowland Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association - (2) for CE and Dep CE Lothian & Borders Bn ACF - for Comdt Knox Academy - (2) for Head and CCF Contingent Commander