The staff responsible for coordinating, assisting and verifying the Duke of Edinburgh's award have recently changed. Mr Lea (Geography) and Mr Taberer (History) are aware there are many students who missed out on the opportunity to take part in their expeditions this year due to Covid 19.
Both teachers are committed to ensuring students from all backgrounds have access to the award scheme despite the difficult circumstances before and in the future.
The information below was posted last year and much of it is still relevant, however costs and key dates may be subject to change this year.
The fine details of the expedition phase are also provisional in accordance with government guidance.
For enquiries, please email dofe@cheney.oxon.sch.uk.
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 - click below to read more.
To Enrol
Applicants need to fill out the application and medical forms below, along with their non-refundable deposit of £65 to be enrolled onto the programme. For Gold DofE the registration fee of £65 must be paid by 13 December 2019:
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. A suggested activities sheet is attached.
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 £50 (includes £21 administration fee). Tents and stoves are provided. *Please note once your child has been accepted, any monies paid are non-refundable:
Deadlines for staged payments:
Feb 2020 £100.00
March 2020 £100.00
Expedition & Training Dates
Year 9 2020/21 Cohort
Training - 20 March 2021 - School grounds
Practice - 24-25 April 2021 (Participants will take part in a local expedition using expedition location ‘A’)
Assessment - 08-09 May 2021(Participants will take part in a local expedition using expedition location ‘B’)
Year 10 2019/20 Cohort
Training - 20 March 2021 - School grounds
Practice - 24-25 April 2021 (Participants will take part in a local expedition using expedition location ‘B’)
Assessment - 08-09 May 2021 (Participants will take part in a local expedition using expedition location ‘A’)
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 the Award and for undertaking the Expedition is £* (includes £21 administration fee). Tents and stoves are provided. *Please note once your child has been accepted, any monies paid are non-refundable. Deposit £, final balance to be paid by …….
Expeditions & Training Dates
Training - 20 March 2021 - School grounds
Practice - 29-31 May 2021
Assessment - 16-18 July 2021
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 £480* plus a non-refundable registration payment of £65. Tents and stoves are provided. *Please note once your child has been accepted, any monies paid are non-refundable.
Deadlines for staged payments:
Jan 2020 £180.00
Feb 2020 £150.00
Mar 2020 £150.00
Expedition & Training Dates
Training - 20 March 2021 - School grounds
Practice - 27-31 May 2021
Assessment - 16-20 July 2021
Our Young Leaders (Ambassadors)
Students are encouraged to approach (young leaders names here) 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.
You can also contact Cheney’s DofE Manager, at dofe@cheney.oxon.sch.uk
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