Bronze DofE Award 2021-2022
Bronze DofE Award
2021-2022
2021-2022
This year, 102 students have enrolled onto the DofE Bronze Award; a youth awards programme founded in the United Kingdom in 1956 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, that has since expanded to 144 nations. Out of the 102 students, 44 are from Year 9 and 58 from Year 10. From July until now they have been busy working on completing their Volunteering, Physical and Skills sections of the Award. Baking seems to be the most popular choice in the Skill section of the various activities taking place, though completing the St John’s Online First Aid Booklet has also been popular this year. Team sports are the leading choice in the Physical section, with going to the gym running a close second. The Volunteering section can be the most rewarding of the three and I am thrilled to see the variety of activities that are taking place, and the difference the work our students are doing is making to their communities. Examples of activities include litter picking, alter serving, library assistant, preparing meals for a homeless shelter, and collecting for foodbanks. My favourite though has to be counting penguins as a research project with Zooniverse.
Earlier this week, a number of students were presented with their Certificate of Achievement. This is an official recognition, by the DofE, of what they’ve achieved by completing their Volunteering, Physical and Skills sections BEFORE they complete the expedition section. It takes a lot of work and effort to complete all three before the end of the school year and any student who receives the Certificate of Achievement is well-deserving of it. Congratulations to all of you.
The students have taken part in a training walk this month which began from Quarry Bank Mill, Wilmslow. The main aim of the 13km walk was to introduce the students to the length and time they’ll be expected to walk on the expedition in June and to practice navigation skills using paper maps. Taking turns in their teams to navigate short sections of the walk, all managed to find their way out towards Mobberley and the far end of the runway at Manchester Airport, and then back to Quarry Bank Mill via the runway tunnels and Styal Woods. They were supervised by a team of eight staff.
The students showed great enthusiasm and a willingness to learn but it was obvious towards the end that the distance proved difficult for some. The important thing is that they learned valuable skills in preparation for the Qualifying Expedition in July. I am sure that the experience of undertaking a challenging trek and working together towards a common goal has heightened their excitement for more.
W ell done to all and thank you to the wonderful team of staff who volunteer their time to support these walks, without whom, the DofE programme could not happen.
Miss Whitney
DofE Manager
It is good to know that many of our pupils show a desire to be better every day beyond the classroom walls. As well as improving themselves, they are using their skills and talents in the service of others. Being Bedian means inspiring others and they are certainly doing this – well done!
