Girls completing the bronze and silver awards benefit from dedicated meeting time, with our DofE Co-Ordinators, and small group support in school to help them complete the skills, volunteering and physical sections. The volunteering section can be completed both in school and outside of school – girls are guided through the organisation of their volunteering. Participation in co-curricular clubs can contribute towards the physical and skill sections of the award.
External expedition companies are used to facilitate the expedition element of the awards. All girls receive a day’s training ahead of an expedition which covers First Aid, map skills, cooking craft, team building and route planning. This gives them the skills needed to go on to successful practice and qualification expeditions. Bronze students enjoy their expeditions in the Chiltern area whilst Silver participants go slightly further afield to locations such as the South Downs.
Students are expected to present their aims, learnings and experiences to the Headmistress and Duke of Edinburgh team following their expedition, an expedition which hones presentation skills and encourages independent group work.