Duke of Edinburgh
Duke of Edinburgh
At The Meadows students begin taking part in The Duke of Edinburgh Scheme in KS4. During Year 10 students begin the bronze level taking part in four areas, if all these four areas are completed during Year 11 and Year 12 students begin the silver level, completing the same four areas over a different timescale.
The scheme covers four areas at bronze and silver level:
Volunteering
Volunteering is about choosing to give time to help people, the community or society, the environment or animals. We work closely with a number of charities and non-profit organisations, including local Temples, Dudley Canal Trust and areas in the local community. Students mainly volunteer in a team.
Skill
The skills activity allows students to prove they have broadened their understanding and increased their expertise in a chosen skill. Students have previously taken part in gardening, drama and different art forms.
Physical
For the physical section, students choose any sport, dance or fitness activity – in short, anything that requires a sustained level of energy and physical activity. Students have completed trampolining, basketball, football and we have multiple links with outside agencies who support our students.
Expedition
The Expedition section requires students to plan, train for and complete a semi self-reliant expedition with an agreed aim. Students complete training for the level and mode of travel, at least one practice expedition, a qualifying expedition (which is assessed) and a final presentation in order to complete the expedition.
If both bronze and silver levels are completed, students can progress to the Gold Level in Year 13 and Year 14. During the Gold Level students take part in all the four areas above for an increased time-scale and also in a Residential. For the Residential section students need to undertake a shared activity or specific course with people in a residential setting away from home and in an unfamiliar environment. Evenings are often as much a part of the experience as daytime activities.
This section offers a high degree of flexibility but it must be done with an organised group, which the school sets up. Students will be staying away – anything from an activity centre or camp to a boat or barge.
The residential activity provides students with an opportunity to broaden interests and experiences. It is ideal for trying something new and ideal for increasing independence sometimes it may be related to existing activities followed in other sections of the Duke of Edinburgh programme.
Students who have completed the Duke of Edinburgh previously have really grown as individuals and have increased independence dramatically whilst having a fantastic time filled with fun and friends.
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