Enrichment

Duke of Edinburgh Award

The Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award has been running at Bishop Walsh School since 2009. In the past few years we have run successful expeditions in the Peak District, using the White Peak area, Snowdonia and the Lake District. The DofE Award is a very popular Award and the number of students participating has increased each year.

The DofE Award is an excellent opportunity for students to complete a prestigious award and have the opportunity to plan and complete two expeditions in rural areas - an activity that many of our pupils have not done before. As well as the personal achievements gained by completing the DofE, Businesses and Universities look very favourably on students who have completed one of the Awards.

The DofE Award is advertised at the beginning of every academic year, with expeditions taking place between March - July, and Gold expeditions taking place in August. 

In Y9 you will start your journey with Bronze, continue on to Silver at the end of Y10 and then you will have the opportunity to do Gold in Sixth Form.
Bishop Walsh has successfully run the award for the past 10 years, with currently, over 120 pupils participating in Bronze and Silver and 10 pupils participating in Gold Award last year.

We will advertise the award to you in assemblies but the awards include the following:

  • Volunteering - to encourage service to individuals and the community.

  • Skills - to encourage the discovery and development of personal interests and social and practical skills 

  • Physical - to encourage participation and improvement in physical activity 

  • Expeditions - to encourage a spirit of adventure and discovery. 

The expeditions for Bronze and Silver are completed in the Peak District. With Bronze lasting 2 days 1 night and Silver being 3 days 2 nights. Gold Award pupils will go further afield based on the cohort and consists of 4 days and 3 nights.

For further details or enquires please contact Mr Prior.

 

In 2012 Bishop Walsh first facilitated the running of the Gold Award and since, many students from Bishop Walsh have completed their Awards and have collected their certificates from Prince Phillip at Buckingham Palace. This year, students completing their Gold Award will be completing expeditions in Snowdonia. Students can complete the Gold Award regardless of whether they have completed the Bronze or Silver levels of the DofE Award. The Award is advertised to students in October and they must apply by the deadline set. 

Visit the official DofE Award website below: