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.