Don’t be surprised if you see neat lines of JFS students marching across the school grounds with military precision next term.

They will be the inaugural recruits in the school’s new Combined Cadet Force.

The oldest Jewish school has joined over 400 other schools in the country who are now part of the CCF scheme.

It promises “personal responsibility, leadership and discipline” with skills that include “drill, skill at arms, shooting, fieldcraft and first aid”.

Around 40 per cent of the time will be spent on outward-bound and adventure activities.

Schools have a choice of army, navy, marines or air force.

“We are going to be part of the Household Cavalry and our two units are Life Guards and Blues and Royals,” said headteacher Rachel Fink.

JFS is looking initially to recruit 36 boys and girls from years 7 and 8.

“The minimum age is 12,” said head of PE, Dan Bartram, who has qualified as Contingent Commander, one of three staff he said are “ready to go”.

A member of his university’s air squadron when a student, he said, “When the opportunity came to for JFS to be part of the CCF, I jumped at it.”

The new recruits will get a uniform sporting the JFS flash and they will have to earn their cap by passing a drill test.

Cadets can work towards their army proficiency certificate, progressing from basic to more advanced levels.

But there will be one immediate goal for the new recruits to aim at later this year.

“There is a plan that our first group of cadets will parade for the first time in uniform at the AJEX parade in November,” Mrs Fink said.

In the meantime, Mr Bartram is looking for an adult female volunteer officer.