Duke of Edinburgh Award

We have been very busy during the last 12 months with a large number of students enrolling for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

During Autumn 2018, we had 33 Bronze and 33 Silver participants sign up to start the award. They have been working their way through the 4 different sections. In Autumn 2019 we have had another set of students enrolling and starting on their D of E journey.

The Scheme demands considerable commitment and determination and many universities and employers recognise the value of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, as it shows the holder has self-discipline, enterprise and perseverance.

There are four sections to complete at Bronze and Silver level and five at Gold. They involve helping the community/environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills, planning, training for and completing an expedition and, for Gold only, working with a team on a residential activity.

The key principle in all of these sections is that the pupils choose their own activities and participate for a sustained period of time. They may do these sections consecutively, or all at the same time.

Volunteering – This section gives pupils the chance to make a contribution back to their community. This year students have given up an hour per week of their time at a range of different places.

Some students have

found placements at different charity shops in the area,
helped out at local mosques, churches, temples and other religious institutions,
helped at St Johns’ ambulance
helped in charities supporting children
worked with animal charities
worked in community centres
helped out in our own school library.

Skills – This section encourages pupils to try or develop a skill, whether it is cooking, photography, learning a new language, or playing a musical instrument. Students have tried out all sorts of skills from public speaking to horticulture. The decision is entirely up to the student.

Physical – This section can include the usual team sports, but also activities such as, kayaking, table tennis and yoga. We have had students undertaking a wide range of different sports – some school based activities and some with local teams and sports centres.

Expedition – Students are also required to undertake expeditions in small independent groups, spending a specified number of hours travelling each day. At Bronze level this is for 2 days and one night, and at Silver level it’s for 3 days and 2 nights. They complete a training expedition and then later in the year a qualifying expedition.

This year students completed the expedition training around the Cannock Chase area. The qualifying expeditions saw students venturing further afield to an area in Shropshire called ‘The Long Mynd’. This area is much more remote with some much higher hills to climb! The students had excellent weather for the qualifying expedition in July, and in September they only had to cope with one rainy day!

All of the Bronze students passed their assessed expedition as well as most of the Silver participants. All of the students are now working towards completing the remaining sections so that they can be awarded their badges and certificates.

Students carry a heavy pack during both the practice and qualifying expeditions complete with tents, sleeping bags, stoves, spare clothes and all of their food as they need to be self-sufficient for the entirety of the expedition.

They need to keep their strength up for the gruelling full days and have to show that they can cook a simple nutritious meal. Sometimes it’s even tasty!