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Duke of Edinburgh

Aim of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

“The Award aims to provide an enjoyable, challenging and rewarding programme of personal development for young people, which is of the highest quality and the widest reach.”

The Award is open to all members of the School; the option of registration being from your son’s 14th birthday.  Boys in the same year group, who are slightly younger, may be able to start with their friends.   It is however, up to each individual to organise their own options for sections 2 – 4, see below.

At Bronze and Silver level the Award is divided into four sections, below is an example of the Bronze.  All must be completed before the Award can be presented, however it is acceptable to start working towards the next level in any section once that specific topic is completed and the next award level has been registered.  The programme lays down minimum ages for various stages of the Award; these are fourteen years six months to receive a Bronze Award, 15 years to start Silver (unless Bronze has been completed) and sixteen years to start a Gold Award.  The Gold level incorporates a fifth element, which is a residential project.

 

Bronze Award

 

1 –Expedition

This is considered the most difficult section, as it requires a large amount of training prior to undertaking the final 2 day camping expedition. Participants are expected to work as a team of 4 - 7, navigate and carry all their equipment over a 15mile/24 kilometres route, cook their own meals and be self reliant. Before attempting the final expedition they will have completed the 1st Aid section of the training, a short practice navigation walk and an overnight practice camping expedition.

The CCF Army Section’s Self Reliance syllabus mirrors the expedition section of the programme, allowing this to count as a practice towards the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Training for the expedition takes place as follows –

Map, compass and basic camp craft lessons are given at school on a Monday evening from 4 o’clock until 5 o’clock for the whole of the Autumn Term.

Practical map reading tests take place during the weekend Camp and school field day in November. 

1st Aid training, pitching and striking tents, cooking lessons and a practice navigation walk are covered during the February CCF camp. 

Having completed this initial training the first opportunity to undertake the overnight practice camping expedition is during the Army Section’s Annual Camp held during the Easter holiday.  Those not in the CCF will not take part in any non Duke of Edinburgh’s Award training and will only attend the camp for 4 or 5 days and not the 9 days expected of CCF members.

The final qualifying expedition can then be undertaken in France or Bavaria during the last week of the Summer Term. 

 

2 – Service

Members of the Community Service Organisation (CSO) are encouraged to use their CSO activity for this section, registered in advance; while members of the CCF may have the opportunity to attend a course run by the City Police.   This takes place during the spring and summer terms on a Monday evening from 4.00pm until about 5.15pm. If the City Police are unable to provide this, award participants can choose a different service option, listed in the “Choices” section of the entrance pack.

Fundraising is a popular choice.

 

3 – Skills

There are in excess of 150 skills ranging from aquarium keeping to zoology.  The most popular skill options are Playing a Musical Instrument and Computing.

 

4 – Physical Recreation

As the title infers it is necessary for all to take part in some sort of sport. Our own sports’ department staff are very happy to assess the sports carried out through the school,  sailing, fencing, badminton squash and water polo are all popular choices, while some boys prefer to ask their golf and tennis coaches to sign their book.  

 

Sections 2 – 4 have a minimum time commitment of 3 months; however one must be carried out for a further 3 months.  It is an individual choice as to which one.

All activities that contribute to the Award Programme must be carried out during your son’s own time and not as part of the normal school day, i.e. 9am to 4pm, excluding lunch time which may be used in some circumstances. 

The Award is intended to allow each participant to work at their own pace.  Some boys undertake several sections at the same time, while others prefer to complete one before starting another.

Dates of the relevant trips are listed in the “Calendar and Fixture List” issued to every boy at the start of each term, they also appear on the CCF web page, which is accessed via the school website.

A registration number and record book, together with an information pack are issued on payment of the registration fee.  A new record book is required for each level of the award.

Each section (1-4) is individually registered, with the school’s co-ordinator, before commencement.