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EXPEDITION AND EXPLORATION
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, DofE, is a nationally
recognised scheme and is the single most sought-after
non-academic qualification with UK employers. It consists of
three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold and within each level
there are four component parts: Skill, Service, Physical
recreation and Expeditions. At Gold there is a fifth section,
Residential.
Each year approximately 225 boys sign up for DofE. The
School runs all their expeditions in-house, using teachers as
supervisors to give the boys the extra support and mentoring
that adds value to the experience. By completing DofE boys
demonstrate their team work, commitment and organisational
skills, and as a package it gives them the life experiences that
develop them into well-rounded young men.
Bronze Award
Participants need to show commitment and determination to
organise their activities, and need to do two of the first three
sections for at least three months, and one for at least six
months. However, with the wealth of Other Half activities on
offer it is usually possible to complete these requirements
in school.
For the Expedition section, initial training takes place in the
Fourth Year during the Lent term. Planning sessions and the
expeditions themselves follow in the Lent and Summer terms.
It is vital that participants attend all these commitments,
which are advertised well in advance. The skills covered
on expeditions will be learned in real situations and should
remain of use throughout life. Boys may also complete their
expedition phase by canoe or by sailing.
The Bronze level of the award usually takes about a year,
but is not time-bound and can extend for longer if needed.
Silver and Gold Awards
The Silver and Gold levels of the award allow participants
to build on the skills and abilities they have gained from the
Bronze level and apply them in more challenging situations.
At Gold the assessed expeditions are normally run in remote
areas of the Scottish Highlands; we offer boys three methods
to complete their expedition: walking, canoeing or sailing.
At the Bronze level, participants will need to commit to the
four component sections but are involved for a greater period
of time. They also will need to complete a Residential section
where they will take part in a worthy activity for five days and
four nights with other young people they have never met before.
Lower School Adventure Trips
The aim of the First Year trip is to allow the boys the
opportunity to experience a wide range of outdoor activities
and team building exercises within a purpose-built centre.
The activities include abseiling, archery, climbing, a high
ropes course and quad-biking.
The Second Year trip provides the opportunity to take things a
stage further and includes similar activities to the First Year
trip, plus canoeing, gorge-walking and hill-walking – all in their
natural environment within the Brecon Beacons. Both trips are
residential and are organised with fully-qualified instruction.
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