The Duke of Edinburgh Award is well established now at Cardinal Newman Catholic School. Giving students from year 10 upwards the opportunity to participate in all three levels Bronze and Silver award.

WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE?

To achieve each award, students must complete a personal programme of activities in four sections (five for Gold) - Volunteering, Physical, Skills, and Expedition. These involve helping people or the community as a whole, getting fitter, developing new skills, planning and going on an expedition. The best bit is - students get to choose what they do to meet the award!

 

WHY DO THE DofE?

• While achieving an award you gain new skills, confidence and learn to be more self-sufficient and self-motivated. Proving you have a set of skills and attributes that are looked for and valued by employers, colleges and universities.
• You will be recognised for your contribution and dedication, in activities you have chosen (and may even be doing already).
• You will 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

Your Duke of Edinburgh programme can be tailored to your own tastes and preferences. If there is a local issue or cause that you feel passionate about, or a skill that you have always wanted to acquire, this is your opportunity to make a difference and be recognised for it. Along the way you’ll pick up experiences, friends and talents that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

…So, you’re gaining new skills, developing yourself as an individual, helping others, being recognised and celebrated for your hard work and having fun doing it! - the question should really be, why wouldn’t you do it?

For further information, Speak to Mrs Scanlon - Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator, or email: sarah.scanlon@cncs.school

Or, Miss Johnson: Samantha.johnson@cncs.school

More detailed information on the award can be found at: https://www.dofe.org/

 

Bronze Award 2022-23

Students in Year 10 signed up to the Bronze Award Duke of Edinburgh, with 28 students completing the award. Students decided, which activities they would complete for their volunteering, skills and physical sections and set working on completing them. From May to June, students attended after school sessions to learn how to map read and use a compass, plus meal planning for their expedition. In June 2023, students took part in their practice expedition around the local area and learnt their camp craft skills, such as putting up a tent and using the stove.

In July 2023, students undertook their real expedition, walking unaided from Warwick University to Hatton. They pitched their tents and cooked their dinner using their stoves. The next day, they packed up their campsite and walked back from Hatton to Warwick University, following the route that they had plotted. All students passed their expedition, which is a fabulous achievement.

Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award

We currently have 17 students signed up to complete their Silver award. All the students that have signed up completed their Bronze award last year and have chosen to carry on with their DofE journey.

They have their Planning day coming up for their practice expedition and will be travelling to Cannock Chase to complete their 3 days of adventure at the start of April.

After their GCSEs in July we will be off to the Peak District for their assessment expedition. The Peak district is a beautiful area and very different terrain to the bronze routes. Previous groups have loved the freedom and surroundings that come at this stage of their award… Something for the students to look forward to after a stressful few months!

 

Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award

This year’s Gold award will be a walking expedition. There will be a 3-day practice expedition and then later in the year the students 

will take part in a 5-day assessment, most likely in Wales. This will be a tough and very physical challenge for the students, with steep terrain and 4 full days walking. Bags will be heavy for the first couple of days until food stores become a little further depleted. Add into all of this 4-nights camping and unpredictable weather and you can see what an achievement achieving this award really is!

Best of luck to all of the students taking part across the award scheme!

Mrs Scanlon Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator