Latest News and Updates:
Duke of Edinburgh Awards -Online Information Evening Wednesday 30 November 6pm.
Here are the joining details for the virtual parents information meeting, for parents and guardians of all students who have signed up and paid the deposit for DofE Bronze or Silver.
Please join the meeting to find out more details about how DofE is run and what you and your child can expect to put in and get out of it.
Our staff member responsible for coordinating, assisting and verifying the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards is Mr Scatchard (Geography).
We are delighted to be able to offer all three levels of DofE: Bronze (year 9), Silver (year 10), and Gold (year 12) for the academic year 2023-24.
Please note the following key dates. These are non-negotiable and children must attend in order to complete their Award, so please check before signing up and enter these in your calendar!
16th September 2023: Gold Training Day
28th September - 1st October 2023: Gold Practice Expedition
12th -16th October 2023: Gold Assessed Expedition
9th March 2024: Bronze and Silver Training Day
27th - 28th April 2024: Bronze Practice Expedition
11th -12th May 2024: Bronze Assessed Expedition
7th - 9th June 2024: Silver Practice Expedition
28th - 30th June 2024: Silver Assessed Expedition
Enrolment for Gold has now closed. Deadlines for enrolment for Bronze and Silver will be announced at the start of the new school year.
Any questions, please email Sean Scatchard, DofE Coordinator: sscatchard@cheneyschool.org
The Duke of Edinburgh's Awards - Bronze, Silver and Gold
The DofE at Cheney School provides an exciting opportunity to take part in a programme of activities that will develop the student as a whole in social interaction and team work.
Students have the opportunity to gain all their awards - see below to read more about each award.
To Enrol
Students need to join the Google Classroom for the relevant award in order for the payment option to be set up on ParentPay. Applicants need to fill out the application and medical forms, along with their non-refundable deposit to be enrolled onto the programme.
Please click here for some ideas to help you complete each section. We offer an extensive range of extra-curricular activities at Cheney School which can help you to fulfil each section. Activities you do outside of school could also count towards the different sections. Choose activities that motivate you and go on your own personal journey. We expect all participants to abide by the DofE 20 Conditions during their expedition section.
Bronze
Timescale
The Physical, Skills and Volunteering sections must be undertaken once a week, with two of these sections to be completed over three months, and one over six months. Although students will be assisted in selecting appropriate activities and monitored throughout the delivery of the Award, completion of these sections will primarily be the responsibility of the students taking part.
Commitment & Cost
Although students will have regular meetings with our DofE Manager to receive support, we would like to remind you that, as this is an extra-curricular activity, we expect students, as well as parents / carers, to ensure that the different sections are completed and they are done so on time.
The cost of registering for Bronze is approximately £235 for 2022-2023. Tents and stoves are provided. *Please note once your child has been accepted, any monies paid are non-refundable.
Financial support (50% cost of the award) is available if your child receives FSM or is PP.
Expedition & Training Dates
- Bronze & Silver Training Day: 9th March 2024
- Bronze practice expedition: 27-28 April 2024
- Bronze assessed expedition: 11-12 May 2024
Silver
Timescale
The Physical, Skills and Volunteering sections must be undertaken once a week, with two of these sections to be completed over 6 months, and one over 3 months.
If your child did not complete their Bronze Award, they are required to do an extra 6 months either volunteering, or whichever of the Physical or Skills section they did for 6 months. To summarise, if they have not done Bronze, they will do one section for 12 months, another for 6 months and the remaining one for 3 months.
Commitment & Cost
Although students will have regular meetings with our DofE Manager to receive support, we would like to remind you that, as this is an extra-curricular activity, we expect students, as well as parents / carers, to ensure that the different sections are completed and they are done so on time.
The cost of registering for Silver is approximately £275 for 2022-2023. Tents and stoves are provided. *Please note once your child has been accepted, any monies paid are non-refundable.
Financial support (50% cost of the award) is available if your child receives FSM or is PP.
Expeditions & Training Dates
- Bronze and Silver training day: 9 March 2024
- Silver practice expedition: 7-9 June 2024
- Silver assessed expedition: 28-30 June 2024
Gold
Timescales
The sections must be undertaken once a week. They must spend 12 months on the Volunteering section. For the Physical and Skills section, they must spend 12 months on one and 6 months on the other. If your child did not do their Silver Award, they are required to do a further 6 months on either of the activities they did for 12 months.
Commitment & Cost
Although students will have regular meetings with our DofE Manager to receive support, we would like to remind you that, as this is an extra-curricular activity, we expect students, as well as parents / carers, to ensure that the different sections are completed and they are done so on time.
The cost of registering for the Award and for undertaking the Expedition is £493* Tents and stoves are provided. *Please note once your child has been accepted, any monies paid are non-refundable.
Deadlines for staged payments: TBC
Expedition & Training Dates:
- Gold training Day: 16 September 2023
- Gold practice expedition: 28 September - 1 October 2023
- Gold assessed expedition: 12 - 16 October 2023
Our Young Leaders (Ambassadors)
Students are encouraged to approach our young leaders, who have undertaken many expeditions themselves and are currently working towards their Silver/Gold Awards.
Further information
You can find useful information on the DofE website or on the edofe website.
In conjunction with BXM: https://www.bxmexpeditions.co.uk/
Please click here for a kit list from BXM Expeditions and here for some further advice on what to take (clothing, kit and food) from RBWM
We would recommend precautionary measures against possible insect bites / Lyme disease such as DEET use, wearing full leg covers, clothing tucked into socks, tents zipped up. For more information, please look online.
Links to funding opportunities
If you need financial assistance we encourage students to talk to year teams about what the school can do to help.