G29 Duke of Edinburgh Kit Check

By Rebecca Marshall18th June 2025

Dear G29 Parents,

The countdown to the Qualifying Expedition is on and it is coming round quick! Thank you to all parents who have completed and returned the medical consent forms in the last couple of weeks. We could not provide your children with this rewarding experience without your support.

In our previous post about Duke of Edinburgh we had requested that all kit for the qualifying expedition be ready by 13th June. As such, we hope that everyone is ready to go! As mentioned in previous correspondence, we have some kit in school that we can lend out if needed, but to be able to manage this, we need to know what students are missing.

To help us do this, we would like all G29 students to bring their full kit to school on Friday 20th June so that we can check for any issues before we go. Some of it may be in rucksacks already, this is fine – we will check those too!

The kit list can be found here – it has been updated to include everything (like toothbrushes and underwear, as some of the basics were previously left off).

Whilst it is important to be prepared, please don’t overpack! The students will have to carry their rucksacks on their back all day, so efficiency is important – avoid heavy items where possible. They should have what they need, but nothing unnecessary – the most important items are walking boots and waterproofs.

We will post an update next week about bringing appropriate food on the Expedition, but in the meantime if you have any questions about the Duke of Edinburgh Award, please contact your child’s Crew Leader or Ms Marshall.

G29 Crew Day: A Reminder for Parents

By Rebecca Marshall11th May 2025

On Monday 12th May, G29 students will be developing invaluable skills to prepare for their Duke of Edinburgh Practice Expedition on Friday 16th May, and ultimately the final expedition in July.

As outlined in the previous blog post, students must bring their full DofE kit into school on Monday so they can pack their bags ready for the practice expedition on Friday.

Please note: students do not need to bring a rucksack, as this will be provided. A shopping bag or similar is fine for transporting kit on Monday.

G29 Duke of Edinburgh Update

By Rebecca Marshall25th April 2025

Duke of Edinburgh Award Update – G29 Summer Term

This term, G29 will be embarking on their Duke of Edinburgh expedition. Today in school, students received an update on what’s coming up as part of their DofE Award this summer, and we’d like to share the key information with parents and carers too.

Key Information for Parents and Carers

Key Dates

Monday 12th May – Crew Day

During this Crew Day, G29 will be developing essential expedition skills. This includes learning how to pitch and dismantle a tent, cook on a camp stove, and pack a rucksack effectively. Students are encouraged to bring their kit so they can pack their bags exactly as they would for the final expedition (see below).

Friday 16th May – Practice Expedition (location TBC)

Students will travel by Metro with their packed rucksacks and complete a 10km walk while carrying their gear. Upon returning to school, they will use their skills from Crew Day to cook a meal, pitch a tent, and repack their bags independently.

It is essential that all students complete this successfully before leaving the site to ensure they are fully prepared for the final expedition.

G29 will finish at the later time of 4:30pm on this day to allow time for these tasks. However, students are expected to stay beyond 4:30pm if necessary to complete all activities. The spirit of Crew will be vital—students will be encouraged to support one another to ensure everyone finishes on time.

Friday 13th June – Kit Deadline

While we recommend students have their kit ready for the 12th May bag-packing activity, we understand this may be short notice. All students must have their full kit—or a clear plan for acquiring it (e.g. borrowing from school)—by Friday 13th June. This allows time to resolve any outstanding issues.

Friday 4th & Saturday 5th July – Final Expedition (near Hexham)

Students should arrive at school as normal on Friday 4th July. They will travel by coach to the expedition starting point and complete a 10km walk, before camping overnight at Greencarts Campsite.

On Saturday, they will complete another 10km walk and return to school by coach. Parents should expect an arrival time of approximately 4:00pm, though this may vary depending on how quickly groups complete the route.

Friday 11th July – eDofE Evidence Deadline

All evidence for Volunteering, Physical, and Skills sections must be uploaded to eDofE by this date. Crew leaders will support students, but they already have access and are encouraged to upload evidence as they go.

Evidence can be flexible—photos are helpful, but written reflections are also valid. If your child is using an external activity (e.g. football training), a brief note from a coach (typed or handwritten and photographed) is sufficient. Students have full control over their eDofE accounts and can access them at any time.

Kit

Students should now begin preparing their expedition kit. Ideally, this should be complete by 12th May for the bag-packing activity. Where possible, we ask for your support in helping students gather their kit.

While items can be purchased new, borrowing from friends or family is a great way to reduce costs. The school also has a small selection of kit available to borrow for families facing financial difficulty.

Please see the Bronze DofE Kit List and guidance on Choosing Kit and Suppliers. It’s important to read this carefully before buying anything to avoid spending money on inappropriate gear.

Boots

Footwear is the most important piece of kit. Students must have waterproof walking boots with good ankle support.

It is highly recommended that these boots are worn during the practice expedition on 16th May to ensure they are comfortable and suitable for the final two-day expedition.

Trainers are not appropriate—the route includes soft, rocky, and muddy terrain. Proper boots help keep feet dry, prevent injuries, and make the experience far more manageable. Walking and camping for two days is challenging enough without soggy socks, blisters or twisted ankles!

Further updates will follow as we approach key dates. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact Ms R Marshall via email.

G29 Fieldwork 13th and 14th June.

By Darren Mead7th June 2023

On Tuesday 13th June (G29 class 1) and Wednesday 14th June (G29 class 2 ) students will undertake a day of Fieldwork at Killhope Lead Mine museum collecting scientific data to support Durham Wildlife Trust water vole project . This will help students to study the distribution of a important, yet declining species and see the impact of habitat quality has on their population.

We are leaving school by coach at 9.30am. So a normal school start time applies.

We expect to return to school between 3.15pm and 3.30pm (please check the website for updates during the day)

Students will need a packed lunch for the day. If your child receives a free school meal, we will provide a packed lunch.

The visit will be outdoors, so students need layers to keep warm. The forecast is dry but a waterproof outdoor coat is needed too. U/V levels are high so a sun hat and sunscreen are need too.

Students will be walking across fields and some uneven ground so comfortable shoes with a decent grip are recommended. Students must wear long trousers for this field work.

Students need to bring their regular kit for the day in a bag as there are exhibits in the site where students can take photographs and make notes using iPads for example.