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D of E

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Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award 2020-2022.

Following the success of our first Duke of Edinburgh group, 32 pupils in Year 9 and Year 10 were enrolled on the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme at the start of the academic year 2019-2020. In the 3 terms before National lockdown, they completed 1 section of their D of E award. 9B volunteered working with Abbotswood Action Group and with Dodington Parish Council to tidy the local area, prepare a bus shelter for a fresh coat of paint and improve the Abbotswood community allotment. This year’s skill section was Music Tech Radio with our music teacher and Mrs Bell supported the pupils to complete their Physical section in PE and fitness lessons. Some pupils belonged to football groups outside of school that they chose to use as their skill development.

    

A couple of pupils continued to work towards their D of E during national lockdown litter picking and reading to younger family members as part of their volunteering.

In September 2021 a further 22 pupils were signed up for the Bronze Award. Post-covid, volunteering opportunities were limited, but over the course of the year, our year 10 groups litter picked around the local area, tidied the school grounds and worked with Frampton Floral Friends to create a wildflower area on The Glebelands in Frampton Cotterell.

  

This cohort’s skill development was Improving Cookery Skills lead by Mrs Langley, with Mrs Bell again supporting completion of the Physical section and Expedition training.

          

     Physical Section                                     Skill section

As they had not had to opportunity to complete their Bronze D of E expedition, both Year 10 and Year 11 pupils were offered the opportunity to complete their expedition and therefore, in most cases, their full Bronze D of E Award. Thirteen Year 11s and nine Year 10s decided to accept the Certificate of Achievement for completing all 2 sections of the scheme but not their expedition. There were also twelve Year 11s and 12 Year 10s that wanted to complete the full challenge.

     

Group 1                                                         Group 2

                          

Group 3                                                        Group 4

Following extensive training, 25 Year 10 and 11 pupils, came to school on June 15th 2022 ready for their expedition. They took part in team building activities and erected the tents before heading out on their first walk of between 3.5 and 5.5 miles. Mrs Bell and Mrs Davis had prepared and checked pictorial maps for the pupils to follow heading out of Pomphrey Hill in Bristol, following footpaths, breaking for lunch at the Old Railway Station and then walking in a loop back around to Pomphrey Hill. The pupils navigated well and supported each other as they went, to complete the first walk successfully. Pupils took the minibuses back to school, where they relaxed in their tents, cooked their supper of pasta, sausages and tomato sauce on trangia stoves and enjoyed playing together before toasting marshmallows on a campfire. Everyone was in bed by 10:45, although not everyone slept!

        

Some of us had a relatively early start, after an uncomfortable night, waking up around 6am. A quick wash and everyone got dressed before breakfast was prepared, with tea, coffee, hot chocolate, fruit, cereal, toast and Spanish omelette on offer. Washing up was done, bags packed and tents dismantled, before the groups collected their lunch ingredients and were bused out to the start of their second walk. Groups 1 and 2 started at Chipping Sodbury Tennis Club and Groups 3 and 4 started in Old Sodbury. The weather was very warm and the local landscape quite hilly, so the walking was hard going, particularly after a night of camping! The teams navigated their various routes, again by pictorial maps and met for lunch in the Orchard, near Horton. Lunch was make as you go cheese, ham and salad pitta bread, with crisps, fruit and flapjack. Water bottles were refilled and the walking continued. Group 1 walked up the hill to the Old Roman Fort before walking back to school (a total of 8.5 miles) while groups, 2,3 and 4 walked between 4 and 6 miles in total back to Chipping Sodbury Tennis Club.

Every pupil on the expedition challenged themselves and amazed the staff supporting them with their determination, teamwork and resilience.

Twenty-five pupils completed the Bronze D of E expedition, with 23 of these pupils gaining the full Bronze D of E Award, a fantastic achievement which will stand them in good stead for their future. Congratulations to everyone that took part, we were so very proud of you              

Mrs Bennett, D of E Manager.