Every year DofE inspires students to develop new skills and grow in confidence, and is open to any young person aged 14 to 24. DofE is structured into three levels of Award and the main differences between the Award levels are the minimum length of time to complete the programme, how challenging it is and the minimum age that students can start. We offer our Year 9 students the opportunity to participate in the Bronze Award, and Year 10 students who have previously completed their Bronze Award, can join the Silver Award.
There are four main sections to the DofE programme: Volunteering, Physical, Skills and Expedition, and students build their own programme by choosing activities and a cause to volunteer for. Once registered, students will have a DofE account where they log their progress in all the sections of their programme for approval. It is the student's responsibility to submit evidence and their assessor reports - it is their award.
For the Bronze Award, students need to participate in their activities for a minimum of three months for two of the sections, and for six months in the other section. They must also successfully complete an overnight expedition.
At the beginning of February, all 125 of our students registered for the Bronze Award completed their in-school training day. This involved learning map-reading, first aid and nutrition, as well as how to use trangias and how to pack for the expedition.
In May, students will put their map-reading skills to the test on their practice walk, where they will have to find their way back to school from Blewbury, following a predetermined route.
This is all in preparation for their expedition in June, which will see them on a two day hike, including camping overnight. Students are required to be totally self-sufficient throughout the duration, so must carry all of the food, water and equipment they will need.
We are thrilled that so many students have signed up to take on the challenge of the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award and look forward to seeing how they get on in their expedition in June.
