Extra Curricular Activities
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Extra Curricular Activities > Duke of Edinburgh Award
Duke of Edinburgh Award
Adeyfield DoE News
In any year around 60 Adeyfield pupils are following the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme. They enrol at Bronze level in year 10 and can move onto Gold as they progress into the Sixth Form. New entrants to the school can join the scheme at any time. The award scheme is noncompetitive and helps pupils to develop confidence and a sense of responsibility. The areas of Skill, Physical Recreation, Service and Expedition combine to produce a rounded individual and the completion of awards gives pupils a sense of achievement and a valuable addition to their c.v.
Expedition Section
For most pupils the expeditions are the most memorable parts of the award. Training takes place in the Chilterns (Buckinghamshire) and the Mendip Hills (Somerset) and pupils learn basic skills of navigation, campcraft and first aid. This gives preparation for backpacking expeditions which take place in the Summer or Autumn terms in the Mendip Hills (Somerset) and the Lake District (Cumbria). The expeditions and training are supervised by experienced staff. Some of Adeyfield's previous expeditions can be viewed here.
Equipment List
The school has a good supply of camping equipment but pupils are asked to provide their own hiking boots and full waterproofs. For more information on equipment required, please click here.
Food should be nutritious, lightweight, not bulky and easy to cook over a camp stove. It is the pupils responsibility to plan and buy their own food and plan their own menu. More information on food requirements for the Duke of Edinburgh expeditions can be obtained from the list below:
- Lake District Duke of Edinburgh food requirements
- Somerset Duke of Edinburgh food requirements
- Chilterns Duke of Edinburgh food requirements
Service Section
Service to the community is an important part of the award package and pupils spend free time on service projects either around the School or in their own communities. Popular choices at the School or nearby are: paper recycling, helping with clubs for younger pupils either here or at a local primary school, working in a charity shop or assisting on expedition training days or in the expedition store, working in the library.
Skill (or hobby) and Physical Recreation Sections
The School's programme of activities provides numerous opportunities for pupils to complete these sections. Popular choices for Physical Recreation are: school teams, tennis club, basketball, aerobics and netball. For Skill, playing musical instruments, involvement in a school productions or joining school clubs like chess, IT or gardening are a few of the many choices on offer.
Overview of the Award Scheme
The summary below indicates the level of commitment needed for each award. Participants should spend an average of one hour per week on each activity over the period indicated. More details about the award scheme at Adeyfield can be obtained from Nick Larman, Laura Elmes or Sam Pretty. There is a DoE office session every lunchtime in room 16 or 17 and anyone is welcome to come and ask questions.
- Bronze: 3 months for two of the three sections (Service, Skill and Physical Recreation), 6 months for one section. Expedition training, a practice expedition and a final expedition with overnight camp.
- Gold: 18 months for one of the three sections (Service, Skill and Physical Recreation), 12 months and 6 months for other sections. The expedition is a 4 day venture (which at Adeyfield takes place during 7 days away) and in addition a residential 5 day course away from home must be completed.
- For more information on dates and locations of Duke of Edinburgh award schemes, please click here.
Getting it done
I think it is worth mentioning that there are a significant number of students every year who work very hard on completing all the sections of their award including the expeditions but do not get their awards because they have not done the paperwork. Please encourage your son / daughter to complete their record books or use the new online record system (eDoE) to ensure that they get their certificate and gold candidates get invited to the Palace.
eDoE and Facebook
Just a reminder that eDoE has been launched at Adeyfield. Please encourage your son / daughter to set up their profiles online. This is a new national DoE web based system for students to record their progress through the sections of the award. Each student has been sent an email with a username a password that they will need to set up a DoE profile. If they have not got the email or have lost their password they can come and see me for help. It has been described by some students as a "kind of DoE facebook". They can up load evidence that they have done the sections of the award. This new system will eventually replace the old record books. Whilst on the subject of the internet… Adeyfield DoE students are invited to join a facebook group called "ADoE". Here they can upload and see photos of expeditions and leave messages on the wall that other people involved with DoE at Adeyfield can read.
