The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a balanced, progressive programme of leisure activities available to all young people between the ages of 14 and 25. At Patchway, students in Year 9 are eligible to join the scheme from the March onwards. Currently we have students from Year 10 to Year 12 taking part. We initially offer the award at bronze level and, if students are committed, progress to silver. The award gives opportunities for personal achievement, community and social involvement, adventure and the discovery of new talents and interests. Participation in the award program allows students to develop:

PERSONAL QUALITIES
• Drive
• Commitment
• Self-awareness
• Initiative
• Self-confidence
• Responsibility
• Active Citizenship

ESSENTIAL SKILLS
• Leadership
• Working with others
• Decision making
• Risk taking
• Organisation and planning
• Communication skills
• Improving own performance
• Problem solving

Students have to complete 4 sections to gain the whole award. The four sections are:

• Service – To encourage service to individuals and to the community.
• Skills - To encourage the discovery and development of personal interests and social and practical skills.
• Physical recreation - To encourage participation and improvement in physical activity.
• Expedition – To plan, prepare for and undertake an adventurous journey in the countryside.

If you are interested in the award and want to take part, you can speak to Mr Peacock, Mrs Smith or Mr Lewis (all the in the science department). We will hold an assembly to notify students when we will open the award to year 9.

Please find the following photos showing what we have done for the award and for fun in the past few years

Climbing at the Bristol Climbing Centre St. Werburgs

Bronze team on their expedition to the reservoirs, near Cheddar. 2006

View of Chew Magna Lake, Bronze Expedition, 2006

Bronze group stopping for lunch on the Mendips expedition, 2006

The boys on their bronze expedition, Chew Magna in the background, 2006

Setting up camp on a hot august day, Mendips expedition, 2006

Silver expedition group getting advice from David, our assessor. Three Castles expedition, 2006

Ramparts and view of Welsh countryside, Three Castles expedition, 2006

Group cooking tea after a long first day out three for their silver expedition, 2006

The group in the Mendips near Cheddar (2005)

Two students help each other along – Mendips (2005)

Traversing a forest block – Mendips (2005)

Black Rock – Mendips (2005)

Students and Mr Simpson enjoying local roads (2004)

Students receiving their sectional awards at a South Gloucestershire awards evening, BAWA Club, 2005