This year, students in Years 9, 10 and 12 have earned one of the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Bronze or Silver Awards following completion of tasks in four main sections of the programme: Volunteering, Physical, Skills, and Expedition.

The DofE programme at King James is managed by Geography Teacher, Mrs Fegan. Students work with her throughout the academic year to log the required number of volunteering hours, alongside those spent taking part in physical activities or developing a new skill. The programme culminates in June with an expedition involving orienteering, hiking and camping.

To achieve the Bronze Award, students must complete three months of volunteering, which could be in school or in our wider community. This year, students have been involved in sports coaching at local primary schools, working with animals at a local shelter and stables, and assisting Year 7s with one-to-one support as part of the reading initiative at King James. They must also participate in a physical activity for at least three months and students have been involved in everything from football, boxing, gymnastics and hiking to dancing and roller-skating. In terms of developing a new or existing skill, some participants have focused on progression in a sporting activity or developing their fitness levels and stamina, whilst others have been learning a language with Duo Lingo and developing their cooking skills. To achieve the Silver Award, students must complete a six-month period in each category.

For the expedition element, which involves walking, camping and navigating, students need to plan, train for, and complete an expedition in a new and unfamiliar environment. For the Bronze award, the expedition covers two days and one night, and for the Silver, students complete three days and two nights. To begin preparing for this, both groups took part in first aid lessons with our in-house Health & Safety Officer, who is qualified to deliver First Aid courses. They were also involved in practice sessions to ensure they were able to put up their tent efficiently, and a practice walk with their back packs to prepare for the hike.

38 students in total completed the programme this year and can now add the prestigious DofE award to their CV. The scheme is extremely well respected by both universities and employers who recognise the commitment and resilience required to succeed, and greatly value these qualities.