Head's Newsletter 23 March 2018

DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD

Participation has been very high in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Schemes this year with over 200 students signing up to complete the bronze, silver or gold award.

route, map read, put up a tent, basic first aid and all did very well keeping up with the physical demands of carrying all their kit. They also learnt from various mistakes so that next time they will not be carrying 10 chocolate bars each a day but will bring good waterproofs.

The schemes involve students taking part in service to the community, a physical recreation, learning a skill and going on expeditions. Students organise and choose what they would like to do for these sections. Students have chosen an impressive variety of things, including volunteering in charity shops across Surrey and Middlesex, helping out with Park Run, learning how to code, woodwork carving and taking part in karate, football and of course rugby.

This term the students have been busy planning their qualifying expeditions. For this they have to plan their routes to make sure they walk for the required number of hours a day and can get to their campsites on time. Only one group so far has been told their route is too short! The bronze expeditions are taking place in the Easter holidays on the North Downs, let’s hope for sunny weather!

Their favourite part of the scheme is usually the expedition. The bronze and silver cohorts both had successful practice expeditions last term to the North and South Downs. The bronze groups, who are new to expeditions, learnt how to plan a