The Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme

The DofE is an internationally recognised award scheme, and is rated very highly by employers for all the qualities and attributes it helps to develop. In year 9, we offer the Bronze award and if students wish to, they can continue onto Silver in year 10. This then gives them the opportunity to do Gold at Exeter College or wherever they are continuing their further education. Students have to complete four sections – volunteering, physical, skills and expeditions.

Students will need to identify what they would like to do for each of the volunteering, physical and skill sections, and each activity needs to be done for a minimum of three months (and one for six months) for Bronze for an average of an hour per week. The timescales for silver are longer. As we now run an elective programme on a Wednesday afternoon, students are able to pick their electives that fulfil the criteria for DofE as each cycle is approximately three months. Students can opt to do an elective for two cycles if they wish to do their six-month section in school. This has made it much easier for students to complete their awards.

Students will also need to participate in a practice and qualifying expedition to complete the DofE award and these take place during the summer term and are around either North Devon or the South West Coastal Path. Students need to camp over the course of a weekend and demonstrate good team work and camp craft skills to an assessor. They need to work in teams of between 4 and 7 people. The DofE will be open to all students.

More information can be found at www.dofe.org

Ten Tors

The Ten Tors is a well-established nationally renowned event, and has been running for over fifty years. It is an Army organised event, where teams have to complete a 35, 45 or 55 mile route across Dartmoor over two days, taking in ten tors along the way. The teams have to camp overnight on the moor, and carry all their equipment and food with them.

The Ten Tors is a selective team event, and is only available to teams of 6. We usually have two 35-mile teams from year 10 and a 45-mile team in year 11. The event normally takes place over the first or second weekend of May.

Students can sign up for Ten Tors in the autumn and, following a rigorous training programme over the winter months, and a selection weekend in March, we will select individuals who are able to take part in the Ten Tors event.

More information can be found at:  http://www.tentors.org.uk/

Training programme:

As both challenges are demanding, there is a lot of training that needs to be done, and students who sign up will need to be dedicated and prepared to give up a significant amount of time.

Parents’ meeting and equipment:

There is usually a parents’ meeting during the summer term which offers parents the opportunity to ask questions and for us to give a bit more detailed information about the programme and the equipment required. Good discounts for equipment are available at some local outdoor shops, and while we may be able to provide some of the necessary equipment, some will need to be bought.  In particular, we recommend that all participants have their own hiking boots.