3 October 2014
Dear Parent / Guardian,
RE: Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award 2014/15
Your Son/Daughter has recently shown a keen interest in the above exciting opportunity. The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme is the world’s leading achievement award for young people, and is highly regarded by Colleges, Universities and Employers. It encourages young people to develop independence, commitment, increase their skill set, and improve their leadership and teamwork through being involved in a personalised programme of activities. The school fully supports the award and recognises its unique value for developing skills and attributes in young people.
The Award is split into Four sections; Volunteering, Physical, Skill, and Expedition. It takes approximately 6 months to complete and requires regular commitment to various activities. Your son/daughter will need to find ways with support from myself and school mentors to fulfil the Volunteering, Physical and Skill section of the award. In addition whilst at school we will focus on the Expedition section in the Spring/Summer of 2015.
Pupils are invited to an Information session, Monday 6th October in Art Room 1 at 1.40.This will be about the Duke of Edinburgh Award, what it involves, and how it will be delivered at Hartford Church of England High School.
Below is an outline of how the Award will be administered.
DofE Registration Enrolment
There is an Enrolment fee of £27. This covers registering participants for the award, their Bronze Participant Handbook and will give them access to www.eDofE.org where progress through the award is tracked. Enrolment is by payment to Finance Office, by Thursday 23rd October 2014
Volunteering, Skill and Physical Section
Please see the Duke of Edinburgh Award website: www.dofe.org for more information about each section. Participants need to choose an activity that fulfils the requirements of the award, and ask a suitably experienced adult to be their assessor. This person must not be a family member, but someone who would be able to set targets and review progress.
Two sections should be done for at least 15 hours spread over a minimum of 3 months, and one section for at least 30 hours spread over a minimum of 6 months.
When a participant elects to self–arrange an activity outside of school, DofE Leaders will check the suitability of their proposed activity to fulfil the requirements of the award. The participant’s parent(s)/carer(s) are responsible for assuring themselves of the suitability of the assessor and organisation with regards to the safety of their child.
Participants will need to start their activities in September, 2014. Please do consider what activities your child might do before committing to the award.
Cont:
Expedition Section
The Expedition section requires participants to undertake, through the services of the Conway Centre an assessed two day, one night backpacking expedition. Before this participants need to be trained and to take part in a training day alongside a practice expedition, of two days and one night. Participants will need to complete all three to secure this section of the award: Dates to be confirmed but will be Spring/Summer
Training Day: Based at Hartford Church of England High School : TBC Early Spring
Practice Expedition: TBC – Late Spring Term ( Weekend )
Assessed Expedition, TBC – Summer Term ( Weekend )
The Expedition Training will take place on a full day likely to be on a School Staff INSET, early 2015, in order for pupils not to miss important school lessons. Attendance is crucial to ensure that participants are trained and prepared and we are confident they are ready for the Expeditions. Each participant will have to have a complete training log in order to take part in the assessed expedition.
Participants will be expected to have their own personal walking equipment, whilst school will provide tents and cooking equipment. We have a limited number of individual items (sleeping bags and Rucksacks) that can be borrowed. There is a discount available in many outdoor retailers for DofE Award participants.
The total cost for the expedition training, training day, practice expedition and assessed expedition will be £208. Please do contact me if costs are of a concern to discuss all options.
Enrolment Process
If your son/daughter wishes to enrol to take part in the Award these four steps need to be completed:
· Attend an Information Session on Monday 6th October in Art Room 1 at lunch time 1.40. (if you are unable to attend, and have any questions please do email me on the address below)
· Make a payment of £60 to the Finance Office by Thursday 23rd October 2014, (This is broken between a non-refundable of £27 for registration fee and a holding commitment fee of £33* for the Initial Expedition Training delivered by Conway Centre Staff *returned if no attendance)
· Completed Medical consent form returned to finance with payment by Thursday 23rd October 2014.
· A further cost of £175 will be required to complete the expedition section of the award. An Individual payment plan will be agreed for all participating candidates. Payment is required prior to Expeditions.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award website has more details on the Award, and what each section involves. Please encourage your child to have a look at the website as they plan what they might do. If you have any further questions please do contact me by email,
Kind Regards,
Mr Marklove
PE & School Sport Coordinator
Duke of Edinburgh Award Manager