According to the Sunday Times, a record number of 342,000 UK teenagers started a Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award in the past year, the highest number in its 68-year history. The Bronze level, typically started by 14-year-olds, remains the most popular, involving volunteering, physical activities, skill development, and a two-day expedition. The scheme, available through 3,568 UK secondary schools, is widely praised for boosting young people’s confidence and resilience.
At Leighton Park all of our Year 9 students are offered the opportunity to complete their Bronze DofE Award with the support of the School, enabling successful participants going on to Silver and Gold levels in Years 10 and Lower Sixth. On Thursday 26th June our intrepid Year 9 adventurers set off to West Berkshire for a stomp up the hills and down the valleys covering 10-15km each day and camping overnight. The pitch chosen for the expedition was at Thirtover Place in Cold Ash and is a Girl Guiding campsite set in nine acres of countryside.
Isaac Walker, DofE Scheme & Outdoor Education Manager, explained, “The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a fantastic opportunity for students to develop independence, teamwork and resilience, it also requires a high level of maturity and personal responsibility.” Year 9 participant William enthused, “I’m incredibly excited about DofE. I know it’s going to be a really, really cool opportunity. I’ve experienced it before at Scouts but doing it with LP with my friends, is going to be even more fun!” Aaron, a slightly less seasoned expeditioner, was also enthusiastic: “I’m looking forward to going on a walk with my friends! Last night I was quite nervous to be honest, I was just thinking there is something I’ve forgotten and then half of it didn’t even fit so we had to take some stuff out again!”
The expedition training is completed through the co-curricular programme with students learning how to pitch a tent, plan a route, read a map, cook on a trangia and handle emergency first aid. The expedition takes place each year during the School’s ‘Activities Duo’; two off timetable days dedicated to experiences outside the curriculum. Finlay who is in the same expedition group as Aaron was confident about their preparations: “I managed to put up the tent and make a hot chocolate in training so now I’m like, how hard can it be?!” Nuala added, “I thought the training was very informative and it really got you prepared for cooking and setting up the tent which are probably the most important skills you need for doing DofE.”
Through the co-curricular programme Year 9 students are also able to complete their physical, their skills and their volunteering sections which can be between 3-6 months each. The co-curricular programme has an extensive range of over 90 hobbies including Amicus, our charity fundraising group, and Rotary Interact, linked to the Rotary Club of Maiden Erlegh.
See more photos on our online gallery.
Watch our DofE at Leighton Park video to learn more.
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