2024 – 2025 Highlights: Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award encourages young people to explore meaningful ways to spend their free time and contribute to their communities. It challenges individuals to push their personal boundaries, experience the rewards of commitment and achievement, and offers guidance to those wishing to support the development of the next generation.

The Award is made up of four core sections:

Volunteering – participants offer practical help to individuals or the wider community. This could include mentoring younger students, volunteering in charity shops or working on countryside conservation projects like footpath maintenance.

Skill – students choose a skill to develop over time, such as learning an instrument, picking up a new language or improving their culinary abilities through cookery classes.

Physical – participants dedicate time to a physical activity of their choice, such as swimming, martial arts or fitness training, aiming to make consistent progress.

Each of these sections should be undertaken for at least an hour per week, with the total commitment ranging from three to 18 months depending on the level of the Award.

Expedition – participants complete one practice and one qualifying expedition involving walking and camping. Year 9 Bronze expeditions took place in the Chiltern Hills and the New Forest in June. Year 10 Silver expeditions were held in Box Hill during early summer and again in the South Downs just after Founders’ Day. Year 12 Gold participants completed their practice in Yorkshire over October half-term and their qualifying expedition in the Brecon Beacons at the end of the school year.

Residential (Gold only) – Gold Award participants also complete a Residential: a five-day, four-night experience spent away from home with a group of unfamiliar peers, working together on a shared activity or project.

Channing School is proud to act as its own Operating Authority, offering the Award at all three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Bronze begins in Year 9, Silver in Year 10 and Gold in Year 12, all starting in the Autumn term.

Our programme is supported by a dedicated team: Mrs Smith and Miss Gibbins guide Bronze, Silver is led by Ms Goodall and Mr Daurat, and Mr Hill and Ms Yun oversee Gold. Ms Yun also serves as Channing’s overall DofE Manager.

Bronze

Bronze DofE Practice (17 June) & Assessed Expeditions (18–19 June)

Since January, our Year 9 students have been working hard in preparation for their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) Expeditions, building up their skills and confidence during weekly lessons. Their efforts culminated last week during Enrichment Week, when they took part in both their Practice and Assessed Expeditions.

On Tuesday 17 June, the students travelled to the beautiful Chiltern Hills, where they embarked on a 3-hour practice walk. Each group set off individually, accompanied discreetly by a ‘silent’ member of staff whose role was to observe without offering assistance – encouraging the students to rely on their teamwork, map reading and navigation skills. The aim was to fine-tune these essential skills in a real-world setting ahead of the all-important assessed expedition.

The following day, Wednesday 18 June, we set off bright and early for the New Forest. Here, Year 9 had the opportunity to put all their training into practice. From navigating unfamiliar routes to working collaboratively to overcome challenges, the assessed expedition was a chance for students to demonstrate independence, resilience and responsibility. Despite the tough conditions, our students showed great determination and supported one another brilliantly. It was clear that all the preparation had paid off, as each group tackled the expedition with confidence and maturity.

We are incredibly proud of how Year 9 conducted themselves throughout both days – showcasing not just their practical skills but also their ability to remain positive, focused and resilient under pressure. A huge well done to everyone involved!

Here is an account of the assessed expedition from Emma, Mind the Map:

DofE was fun but exhausting.

On day one, we set off on time in the sweltering heat, making sure to take regular rest breaks to stay hydrated. Our bags were heavier than expected but we were in high spirits. Then we got lost in a wood for a bit, had a bit of bag drama and ended up being late back by an hour. We set up our tents, cooked our delicious meal (pasta and cookies) and then eventually went to sleep as we were exhausted.

On day two, we woke up bright and early, ready to be on time for the day. We were one of the first groups out and we were ahead of time at every checkpoint! We had cold pasta for lunch and kept drinking water. Then, we were on the home stretch – we were walking on pure will and adrenaline. We got back to the campsite and realised we were first back! We were so happy and we all passed.

What a turnaround from not finishing the practice! Overall, we all had a great time and are thinking about doing Silver DofE next year.

Silver

Training Day

The journey of this year’s Silver DofE cohort has been a story of extreme temperatures. It began with a training day in January, held in bitterly cold conditions, as Channing Year 10 Silver participants joined St Aloysius’ Bronze students for a day of campcraft and navigation skill refreshers. With some healthy competition around Waterlow Park, girl power mostly prevailed – though the boys claimed a win and some chocolate too!

The students soon discovered that teamwork was the key to success as they planned routes for their practice expedition to the North Downs in April. We hoped for milder temperatures, and our wishes were granted.

Practice Expedition

It was another early start in April, but this time the sun was shining, the bluebells were out, and the North Downs provided an idyllic backdrop for the endurance challenge: 42km over three days and two nights, entirely self-sufficient.

On day one, the girls had the generous support of staff and Year 12 walkers, but they quickly grew in confidence as the expedition progressed, showing impressive organisation and independence.

We usually have the area to ourselves at this time of year, but the sunshine had attracted early campers, cyclists and walkers. We were delighted to receive some very positive feedback on the girls’ teamwork, friendliness, and the many qualities that exemplify the Channing values. They absolutely aced it.

Assessed Expedition

If we thought April was warm, June truly raised the bar. We are so proud of all the participants, who approached the physical and mental challenges of this expedition with enthusiasm, positivity and confidence.

Their resilience was tested with early start times, intense heat and some demanding terrain, but they were rewarded with stunning landscapes, stronger friendships, the satisfaction of accomplishment – and a welcome splash under a cooling hosepipe at the final campsite!

They say success is a journey, not a destination, and having now passed their Silver expedition, some are looking ahead to Gold with a mixture of trepidation and determination.

Gold

Training

Training sessions take place once a week during lunchtimes, beginning in the first week of September and continuing through to the first week of November. Nothing quite prepares you for a Gold expedition — the introduction of wild country and wild camping takes things to a whole new level. That usually means no taps or toilets, just a stream, so water purification tablets are essential.

An upgrade at this level is the use of a gas Trangia stove, which greatly speeds up cooking and allows for proper meals — something we actively encourage, especially for dinner on Day 1. Participants plan routes of at least 80 km over four days, with an acclimatisation walk included at the outset.

Practice Trip

We set off during break on the Friday before the October half term, heading to Dulverton Youth Hostel. After a first-aid session with Grace H., a former Channing pupil and now a paramedic, we embarked on a night navigation exercise at Winsford Hill — using stars, maps, torches and compasses to guide us.

Day 1 involved an acclimatisation walk to get used to the terrain — tussocks were definitely not a favourite! Day 2 took us from Tarr Steps to our wild camp at Hawkcombe Woods, with a stream as our only water source. A river crossing and a walk through a medieval village were highlights of the day. Day 3 led us to Cloud Farm in the atmospheric Lorna Doone Valley, shrouded in early morning fog. On Day 4, we crossed the moors and joined the coastal path, finishing at Lynmouth, where most treated themselves to a well-earned pasty for the journey home.

Assessed Expedition

On the day after term finished in July, we departed Channing at 6:30 am, bound for Crickhowell — where Eve C. kept up family tradition by meeting her granny for lunch, just like her sisters before her. The rest of the groups stocked up on last-minute supplies ahead of the four-day expedition.

Our three teams — Jabberwalkies, Nat Navs, and Gold Questers — completed an afternoon acclimatisation walk to get a feel for the Welsh terrain. That evening, we enjoyed a ‘last supper’ at the Harp Inn before settling in for the night at the Woodlands bunkhouse in Glasbury.

Day 1 saw the teams trek past Sugar Loaf to Pen-Y-Dre. On Day 2, they ascended the Black Mountains for breathtaking views of Wales, before the steep descent via Vision Farm to Capel-y-Ffin, where they wild camped with just a single tap for water. Day 3 involved a climb to Lord Hereford’s Knob (a favourite spot for panoramic views) and on to Glasbury. On Day 4, they tackled the Begwyns before finishing triumphantly in Hay-on-Wye, collapsing into their B&Bs — exhausted but accomplished.

This year’s three teams were among the most independent and determined cohorts we’ve had since Miss Ellie Gibbins’ year! While we’ll miss seeing them for Duke of Edinburgh activities, we look forward to reuniting at the Palace when they receive their Gold Award invitations — plus ones included!