Duke of Edinburgh
The school offers all students the chance to participate in the bronze level of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, pupils enrol at the beginning of year 10 and spend the next 12 to 18 months completing their award. Approximately 75% of the pupils in year 10 choose to embark upon the award programme, almost all of these will complete their award before the end of year 11. Participants engage in a wide variety of activities and take true ownership of their award and responsibility for their progress, which is closely monitored by our experienced team of DofE staff. The expedition takes place in the countryside local to the school providing participants with the opportunity to explore the area around their school and gain a much great appreciation of their surroundings. Many students comment on how nice it is to be able to walk out of the school gates and straight into the countryside without the need to take a minibus to the start point.
In the lower sixth we offer students the chance to work towards their Gold Award, this is a prestigious achievement that is highly regarded by employers and is no easy ride for the participants. Our experienced team monitors and encourages the participants into getting themselves organised and booking up their residential section which is unique to the Gold Award. Participants undertake a wide variety of volunteer work, including giving their time to assist in local primary schools, where they help young people with their reading or sports training, with local hospital visiting groups, with environmental and wildlife projects in the local village and through raising significant sums of money for local charities. The gold expedition is a true test of an individual’s stamina, character and ability to work as part of a team. Students undertake a rigorous and detailed training programme both in school and in wild country, this culminates in a qualifying expedition on Dartmoor, which finishes with a celebratory dinner where participants make their presentations. Approximately 40% of the lower sixth students embark upon their gold award and many complete this by the time they leave at the end of year 13.