Extracurricular elements of school life – including CCF and DofE – offer adventure but also deliver skills and qualities that are invaluable for future life and career. We asked three schools how they develop young people through building a culture of service
Malvern College
At Malvern College, service is not simply an extracurricular offering but a defining element of the educational ethos. As a full boarding school and home-away-from-home for pupils aged 13 to 18, the Worcestershire school works to create a supportive environment where young people can explore, commit to, and grow through service at a pivotal stage in their development. The diverse community includes pupils from around the world – many are from services families – and this global perspective enriches community engagement and adds depth and resonance to programmes.
From the moment they reach Remove (Year 10), every Malvern pupil participates in either the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) or the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), with many choosing both to get a breadth of challenges and experiences. The DofE programme, led by Head of Outdoor Pursuits Jay Watts, includes both Silver and Gold awards and offers opportunities for physical challenge, community volunteering and expedition-based learning.
The CCF at Malvern provides a structured, skills-based environment encompassing the Army, RAF, and Royal Marines sections. This programme supports character development through leadership tasks, outdoor training and teamwork. And it’s exciting, too: recent introductions include flight simulator technology for RAF cadets, laser rifle training on the neighbouring Nine Acres grounds and a Bronze Award at the 2025 Cambrian Patrol. For two consecutive years, a Malvern CCF pupil has also held the prestigious title of Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire’s cadet.
“Parents frequently speak to the transformative impact of these service opportunities”
Malvern College says these experiences offer lasting value. Pupils build confidence, develop initiative and learn to lead and support one another – qualities that serve them well in further education and future careers and help them stand out from other applicants. Parents frequently speak to the transformative impact of these service opportunities, recognising their role in shaping mature, capable young adults.
Beyond DofE and CCF, Malvern’s broader culture of service is embedded in weekly routines. Each Wednesday afternoon is dedicated to partnerships and volunteering, all of which are entirely pupil led. College pupils assist in local schools, lead digital safety initiatives and take music and performance into care homes. They also engage in longstanding international partnerships, such as the OSCAR Foundation in Mumbai and sustainable farming initiatives in Peru.
Charity work is a vibrant part of house life, with fundraising events supporting causes ranging from Cancer Research UK and Mind to the local Malvern Hills Foodbank. These elements of service and giving back often stem from personal connections. Recognising the scope of this work, the school is currently appointing a Head of Community Partnerships and Service to coordinate and further develop opportunities.
Malvern College malverncollege.org.uk
Wellington College
At Wellington, hands-on service is central to its Global Citizenship character development programme. Every Wednesday afternoon, all students take part in community-based activities – from CCF and DofE to supporting the work of care homes. These projects are led by a dedicated team of specialist teachers and embedded into the timetable.
Every Fourth Form pupil participates in CCF via weekly activities centred around the Salamanca Shield, an inter-house competition based on military and adventurous training skills and culminating in a five-day training camp. Many Fifth and Sixth Form pupils then continue on with CCF. Large numbers also participate in DofE – right up to Gold in the Lower Sixth. This year, 196 students are taking DofE Bronze in Third Form, 24 are doing Silver in Fourth Form and 18 are completing Gold in Lower Sixth.
“Our inbuilt service culture develops empathy, leadership and a sense of global responsibility,” says Head of Global Citizenship and CAS Coordinator Rebecca Parks. “Many alumni go on to take up volunteering roles as a result of their experiences.” Wellington is mindful of University of Northampton research indicating the significant positive impact of CCF on young people – both in improving school performance and in boosting career prospects.
“We listen to pupil voices and empower them to take action on causes close to their hearts”
Wellington’s history – it was founded as a school for the orphaned sons of army officers – means the spirit of service is embedded in its culture. Both parents and the school see huge value in helping young people to build strengths through service. Community initiatives and service leadership roles also provide an opportunity to build networking skills, uncover interests and skills and get a taste of different roles and types of work. Students regularly draw on these real-world experiences when applying for work experience, university places and first jobs. Being active through service also develops crucial transferable skills – including resilience, adaptability, leadership and communicating with people from different backgrounds.
The school’s long-running partnership with local LAN special needs school Carwarden House has built both friendships and a vibrant activities programme, with pupils fundraising to deliver treats such as Thorpe Park trip. Many such community initiatives are pupil led. For instance, there was a recent toy drive to support Afghan refugees. “We listen to pupil voices and empower them to take action on causes close to their hearts,” says Rebecca Parks. “This includes the Cerebral Palsy Trust which was established by pupil David Loftus and his school peers. Pupil members recently organised a Christmas Inspire Day to celebrate the enormous progress they have made.”
Wellington’s Peace and Conflict Institute supports the charity Care4Calais and 27 pupils recently travelled to France to spend two days supporting their work in refugee camps. Other initiatives include pupils and staff teaching Latin to students at nearby Edgebarrow School, and outdoor activity sessions for local primary school children.
Welliington College wellingtoncollege.org.uk
Oakham School
At Oakham School, service is embedded into the school calendar, with extracurricular activities included as part of the weekly timetable, plus weekends of activity, residentials and expeditions. With these regular opportunities beyond the academic sphere, Oakham aims to deliver the holistic education that prepares pupils for life beyond school. “Our service options of DofE, CCF, and Voluntary Action cultivate not just well-rounded students, but compassionate and capable young people prepared to serve and lead in a complex world,” says Oakham Director of Adventure, Matty Powell,
The Rutland school’s Connected Curriculum weaves together academic, pastoral and co-curricular experiences, with pupils actively encouraged to develop five essential life skills – Communication, Social, Self-management, Research, and Thinking. Service options offer the perfect place to develop all five. A team supports Matty Powell in delivering the service and adventurous learning programme, with qualified coordinators across DofE, CCF and VA, plus a specialist Adventurous Learning Co-ordinator.
Pupils in Years 7 and 8 are introduced early to the values and benefits of service and adventure through charity initiatives such as the Harvest Challenge, bake sales, charity bike ride and annual adventure camps. In Year 9, all pupils have a formal introduction to CCF, DofE and VA via a carousel of activities and experiences across the three terms. At the end of the year, they also experience an expedition, which they can count as their Bronze DofE Expedition.
From Year 10, pupils can choose whether to progress through the Silver and Gold Awards – with canoeing, cycling, and sailing, in addition to walking. They also have the flexibility to continue with CCF and VA by choosing all threeservice options during their weekly Activities sessions. This flexible pathway continues in Year 12. Even if pupils have never done DofE at Silver or Bronze levels, they can choose to complete their Gold DofE during this year, with an option to complete a CCF-organised expedition to Norway.
“These moments of challenge help our pupils grow personally and face obstacles with greater confidence”
At each stage of the DofE awards journey, pupils are mentored by trained staff and older pupils who develop their leadership skills through its Young Leaders programme. CCF is an equally popular option from Year 10 onwards, with pupils participating in its programme of training and adventure via real-world challenges and unforgettable experiences – from fieldcraft exercises to annual camps.
Voluntary Action has seen a big growth in popularity, with pupils participating in an invigorated programme of volunteering. “We lead initiatives that nurture a culture of service, teamwork and emotional intelligence. Our projects range from intergenerational storytelling with dementia patients to sustainability efforts like uniform recycling,” says Head of Voluntary Action Monica Fernandez.
The Oakham School Foundation Project adds an entrepreneurial edge to service culture. Every Sixth Former is challenged to pitch, fundraise, and deliver projects that make a tangible difference to school life, working in connection with the Development Office. From installing solar lighting and restoring the local canal path to creating a time capsule legacy, the winning teams develop enterprise, collaboration and leadership skills to enrich school life and leave a legacy.
Oakham sees the encouragement of service activities as bringing a wide range of benefits. “These moments of challenge help our pupils grow personally and face obstacles with greater confidence,” says Matty Powell. “Leadership opportunities also play a crucial role in strengthening communication skills and self-assurance.” Parent feedback on the many service elements of school life is overwhelmingly positive, he adds. “Parents frequently highlight the character-building aspects of these programmes, especially their impact on resilience, leadership, and responsibility.”
Oakham School oakham.rutland.sch.uk
Further reading: St Albans School on the wider value of CCF activities
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