Duke of Edinburgh
The Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award is offered to our Year 10 students in the winter term. This award encompasses the four aspects, volunteering, physical activity, practising a skill and an expedition. These are for one hour a week for three months with one module being for six months. We have had a wide range of activities chosen for these modules from caring for horses to refereeing and video game design to baking.
Volunteering
All activities should take approximately 1 hour a week (a total of a 3 hour commitment per week). The Bronze Award follows the below timescales.
IDEAS
- Helping a charity or community organisation
- Working with the environment or animals
- Community action and raising awareness
- Coaching, teaching and leadership
- Cyber safety
- Council representation
- Neighbourhood watch
- Personal safety Promotion and PR Road safety
- Community garden
- Helping children to read in libraries
- Environment Letter writing scheme
- Litter picking
- Parkrun volunteer
- Young carer
- Youth work
EXPEDITION
During the summer term, the expedition module will take place at an activity centre in Rivington. This involves two separate trips of two days and one night of camping and hiking. On the first trip, pupils will plan and execute a route across the countryside whilst carrying all of their equipment and will be expected to cook a hearty warm meal in the evening on camping stoves. This will leave them fully prepared for the second trip where the assessment will take place and they will independently complete their two day hike.
Across the whole award, students will develop their resilience, independence, team working skills whilst giving something back to the community and preparing themselves for the trials and tribulations of later life.
How do students apply?
We have an introductory assembly at the start of year ten and then sign up is with enrolment forms. Spaces are limited so prompt sign up and payment is needed to secure a place. The cost can vary to enrol but this year it was £28.50. They get an enrolment package that has a booklet with information and discount cards for places like Blacks and Millets.
In terms of numbers, there are usually about 35 - 50 pupils. It is not limited to GCSE subject, anyone in Y10 can enter.
REASONS TO DO DofE
For the hundreds of thousands of young people who take part each year, the benefits of achieving a DofE Award at any level are endless. DofE is about helping you along the path to a productive and prosperous future. As many of our participants say, it’s life-changing.
Achieving an Award will give you skills, confidence and an edge over others when you apply for college, university or a job. Beyond your academic achievements, universities want to see evidence of so called ‘soft skills’ that you have developed through extra-curricular activities, such as communication, commitment, leadership and teamwork. Your DofE Award is a fantastic way to demonstrate and evidence these skills in practice.
You’ll also make a difference to other people’s lives and your community, be fitter and healthier, make new friends and have memories to last you a lifetime.
Our participants also tell us that doing their DofE gives them character traits like confidence and resilience, that can boost their mental health and wellbeing and help them face and overcome personal challenges.
Useful links;
Hear about other young people’s DofE experiences and find out why top employers look out for Award holders when recruiting.”