Duke of Edinburgh at Walton le Dale
DofE Official website https://www.dofe.org/
Walton le Dale relaunched the Duke of Edinburgh Programme in school 3 years ago. Each year it has become more popular with students and more and more students complete the award each year. Since its relaunch we have also become our own fully licenced centre. Walton le Dale is run by volunteers amongst the staff who endeavour to allow as many students in Year 9 as possible to complete the Award. Students will be introduced to the different areas covered in the award through the enrichment programme in school. Students then have to complete an application to be accepted on the schools scheme. The cost of doing the award through school is £35 which covers fees to DofE and all expedition costs plus a school technical t-shirt.
The Award requires commitment, hard work and dedication. Students who complete the award are regarded highly by employers and colleges as they understand that to achieve the Duke of Edinburgh means that the student has skills and an attitude up and above academic qualifications. Information on the benefits of doing DofE are more than this and you can read more here (https://www.dofe.org/the-benefits-of-dofe).
How does DofE work Walton le Dale?
Once accepted, students will need to independently complete 3 areas to receive the award. They can find opportunities in or out of school but they cannot complete the tasks in lessons:
Volunteering – a list of ideas can be found in the documents at the end of this page
Skills – a list of ideas can be found in the documents at the end of this page
Physical – a list of ideas can be found in the documents at the end of this page
2 of the areas must be done once a week for 12 weeks (3 months) and the student's favourite area must be done once a week for 24 weeks (6 months).
The final part of the award is the Expedition which is run through school.
Students will receive a eDofE account and they must log all of their activities on the website as evidence to be accredited the award.
All information can be found in this guide for parents at the bottom of the page.
The Expedition
The final part and maybe the most exciting is supervised and run by school. Students will be trained and taken on an expedition walking and camping self-sufficiently. School will run after school training sessions for the students which are compulsory. They will learn camp craft and navigation. The students will be taken on a 2 day (1 night) practice expedition camping at Guys Farm, Lancaster. LA2 9GF in the late spring.
The students will then need to do a further qualifying expedition at Waddecar Scout Activity Center, Snape Rake Lane, Goosnargh. PR3 2EU. in the summer to be assessed.
Parents are asked to provide kit where they can, however school do have spare kits and will ALWAYS endeavour to lend kit when needed as we believe that all students should be able to do DofE and understand many households do not own much of the kit required. This link is the DofE kit list however school will advise the kit that they feel necessary in a meeting closer to the expeditions.
DofE guide to kit http://www.dofeshopping.org/expedition-kit/
DofE downloadable kit list https://www.dofeshopping.org/dofe-expedition-kit-list-download/
The Staff
DofE Coordinator and Expedition Leader d.cairns@waltoledale.lancs.sch.uk
DofE Expedition Supervisor d.mcclelland@waltonledale.lancs.sc.uk
DofE Supervisor Miss Sharples
DofE Supervisor Mrs Samanavicienes
DofE assessor Mrs Lo
DofE assessor Mr Hull