Fourteen cadets from Loughborough Grammar School and Loughborough High School have made history by winning the Royal Air Squadron Trophy (RAST) for the third consecutive year. The team competed at RAF Wittering on June 21 after qualifying through a regional event earlier in 2025.
Intense Competition After Exams
Despite having only a few days to prepare together following their GCSE and A Level exams, the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) team delivered an outstanding performance against the best units in the country. The competition tested them across foot drill, air rifle shooting, space, cyber, first aid, and leadership.
The day began with a flawless drill round, boosting team confidence. A complex leadership task later posed challenges, resulting in an incomplete solution, but the cadets demonstrated remarkable resilience. They quickly regrouped to excel in the space round, followed by a demanding disaster response scenario in first aid.
Exceptional Shooting Performance
The team made a final push in cyber and shooting events, particularly excelling in shooting with multiple groupings as small as 4mm. Their combined efforts secured first place in shooting, second in drill, space, and cyber, third in first aid, and fifth in leadership, earning the overall national title.
Teacher Jo Smith said: “Three RAST wins in a row – I’m speechless! I am so proud of the entire team for their commitment, determination and talent, especially while balancing the demands of GCSE and A Level exams. This is an incredible achievement and a testament to the high level of training at Loughborough Grammar School CCF.”
Praise for Dedication
Ben Ward added: “We are blessed to have such hard-working young people in our RAF section; their appetite for achievement is huge. The enthusiasm we see amongst our cadets and staff, and the support they show for one another, is what makes them remarkable. To hold this title again is a real honour – the cadets truly deserve everything they have worked to achieve.”
This historic accomplishment cements Loughborough’s reputation as one of the leading cadet contingents in the country.
