Around 40% of our pupils are involved with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme (DofE), with over 180 currently taking part across all three of its levels. Pupils start the Bronze Award in Year 9, the Silver Award in Year 10 and the Gold Award in the Lower Sixth. Participation in DofE is a great way to have extra-curricular activities recognised, discover new talents, have fun with friends and achieve an internationally renowned award.

Each award level consists of four sections: Volunteering; Skill; Physical; and the Expedition, and the Gold Award has an additional Residential section. These sections encourage pupils to help the community,

learn or develop skills, become fitter through sport, dance or other activities, and plan and train for their expedition. Pupils must commit to regular participation in activities for a set period in each of the volunteering, skill and physical sections. These activities can be completed using the co-curricular programme at school, through external organisations or completely independently – either individually or with friends – and an online logbook is used to record and evidence each section.

For the expedition, pupils must attend a training day and practice trips before undertaking an assessed expedition in the appropriate setting for their level. Bronze groups walk and camp in the Surrey Hills, Silver in the New Forest and South Downs, and Gold travel further afield to the Lake District and Brecon Beacons. We use Activ Adventures, a DofE approved activity provider, to run our expeditions at all three levels and we are a dedicated DofE Award centre.