Duke of Edinburgh

Duke of Edinburgh award November 2024

We currently have upward of 150 pupils participating in the D of E Award.

The expeditions took place in May for the S3 participants, and after the exams in June as well as September for the S4, 5 and 6 participants. Bronze has an expedition training day and an assessed expedition which takes place over one weekend. Silver requires two three-day expeditions.

The routes were mainly in Upper Deeside, the Invercauld/ Linn of Dee/ Derry Lodge area, with a few expeditions also taking place closer to home in Glen Tanar. All expeditions were a success and saw our pupils working to overcome the physical challenges of completing significant distances with a large and heavy rucksack. As well as the physical challenges, the groups showed impressive teamwork skills, supporting and encouraging each other as well as creating some exemplary camp cooking.

With the expeditions now over some of the pupils just need a little encouragement to get their assessor’s reports uploaded in order for them to complete their Award.

Several of the pupils have completed their Bronze award and have signed up for Silver. We have already had three groups out on practice expeditions. The others will be trying to get out on their practice after the exams and then fit in their assessed expedition before the October holidays.

In the New Year we will enrol our next cohort, the S3 Bronze participants, with their expeditions being planned for May 2025.

The first group event for the new S3 Bronze participants is a compulsory Training Day (usually in April) with the pupils completing training in First Aid, Camp Cooking, Navigation, Route Planning, Tents and Kit.

First, they fill in their details on the S3 2025 Microsoft form. They will then have a D of E account added to Parent’s Portal for £32. Once the joining fee has been paid on iPay the pupil will be enrolled into the D of E Award and will receive an online D of E account where they can manage the different sections. Pupils can start to log time for their other three activities as soon as they have been enrolled.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank all of the leaders who are so enthusiastic and committed; we have a combination of parent volunteers and school staff who make a very solid team of leaders. If you would like to find out how parent volunteers can help support expeditions, please contact the D of E coordinator at school:

sally.pease@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE?

The Award consists of three levels; Bronze, Silver and Gold. Participants must be aged between 14 & 25. Whatever activity is undertaken is assessed and then recorded online on the eDofE platform. This provides a record of achievements, effort and progress.

Each level of the award has four separate categories: 1. Volunteering 2. Skills 3. Physical Recreation 4. Expedition.

WHAT DOES THE SCHOOL OFFER?

The school has volunteer staff and parent volunteers who help us to manage the large number of pupils who are enthusiastic to take part. The school offers the expedition section, while the pupils manage the other three sections themselves. The assessor for the Skills, Physical and Volunteering section needs to be an adult who can verify your activity. It needs to be an adult who is not related to the participant. The assessor should ensure that they have enough evidence to demonstrate that the participant has completed the activity for the required time.

Assessor’s reports can be completed online at https://www.dofe.org/assessor/

The assessor will need the participants ID number, level and which of the three sections they are verifying.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

It is expected that each Level of the award should take a minimum of 6 months to complete, realistically each level will take around 12 months.

WHAT ARE THE COSTS INVOLVED?

There is an annual charge of £35.00 to participate in the Award. This fee is to cover enrolment charges and also operating costs. Participants will require certain key outdoor clothing for the expedition section, (a list will be provided.) There are opportunities to loan some equipment from the school. It is also important to note that no pupil should be prevented from taking part in the Award because of a lack of funds. There are funding opportunities available so if this is a concern, please make sure that you ask Ms. Pease. We aim to support pupils who are eligible for Free Schools Meals to participate at no cost to the pupil or their family.

behaviour expectations

It is expected that you will conform with the Aboyne Academy Positive School Climate at all times whilst participating in the Award.

Pupils organise their own D of E sections and ask someone who is involved in their activity to be their assessor. Self-motivation, initiative and organisational skills are all areas the Award should help to develop. For this reason, it is up to the pupils to take responsibility for all sections other than the expedition.

Kit list

Kit List March 2025.pdf

To find out further information about the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme ask Ms. Pease in English or visit the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme website: https://www.dofe.org/

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