More than 250 cadets at a public school were put through their paces in a military inspection.

Rear Admiral John Lippiett MBE, chief executive of charity the Mary Rose Trust, visited St John’s School, in Epsom Road, Leatherhead, last Wednesday.

He also planted a tree to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the cadet movement.

Pupils in the school’s combined cadet force (CCF) carried out exercises including drills and practical leadership tasks, before competing in a traditional field gun competition, which the Royal Navy section won.

Major Ainsley Rawlings, the new contingent commander of St John’s School’s CCF, said: “Our cadets demonstrated an excellent range of skills and the whole day demonstrated the breadth of opportunities available through the CCF here at St John’s, where cadets have spent time aboard HMS Ark Royal, been flying at RAF Benson, tested themselves on military ranges and taken part in adventurous training activities.”