Letters for school
Cadet activities sometimes mean time off school — here's how we help you explain it, and what to expect.
Some Air Cadets activities — a flying day, an expedition, a ceremonial parade — fall on a school day. Schools are usually glad to support this, and a short letter from the squadron explaining the activity is normally all that's needed. This page covers how to request one, what it says, and how often it tends to come up.
Request a letter
It only takes a few minutes.
Tell us the dates
Let us know which activity your cadet is attending and the school days it falls on.
The Adjutant prepares it
The squadron Adjutant writes the letter, explaining the activity and why it's part of the cadet programme.
We send it to you
You’ll receive the letter within [Squadron to confirm — typically a small number of working days], ready to pass to the school.
The letter confirms your cadet's attendance at a specific RAFAC activity, gives the dates involved, and briefly explains why the activity is part of the accredited cadet programme — so the school has what it needs to record the absence appropriately.
Cost: [Squadron to confirm — we are not aware of any charge for this service, but it has not been formally confirmed]. Other questions: get in touch and we’ll come back to you — [Squadron to confirm whether there is a target response time for enquiries].
How often this comes up
This varies cadet to cadet. [Squadron to confirm the typical number of school days this involves per cadet, per year.]
| Activity | When it typically falls | Notice given |
|---|---|---|
| Air experience flying (at [Squadron to confirm affiliated RAF station]) | Usually a weekday, during school term | [Squadron to confirm] |
| Annual camp | A week, usually in the school holidays | [Squadron to confirm] |
| Wing/regional competitions | Usually a weekend | [Squadron to confirm] |
| Ceremonial parades (e.g. Remembrance Sunday) | Usually a weekend, occasionally a weekday | [Squadron to confirm] |
| Duke of Edinburgh's Award expeditions | Usually a weekend, sometimes extending into a school day | [Squadron to confirm] |
Whether a cadet activity counts as authorised absence is a decision for your child's school, under their own attendance policy — please check with them directly rather than assuming.
Every sanctioned Air Cadets activity is covered by RAFAC insurance. [Squadron to confirm whether certificates are available to schools on request.]
Get in touch
Whether you're a parent needing a letter or a school with a question about one of our cadets, we're happy to help.
Questions about safeguarding?
See how we keep every cadet safe, and how to raise a concern.