🥉Bronze Assessment 26-29 June
A total of 85 pupils from Year 9 completed their Bronze assessment expeditions at Rendlesham Forest. Over the 2-day period the pupils had to navigate their chosen route independent of any adult assistance. They had to carry all their own equipment and once at the campsite had to organise their team for the evening routine including pitching tents, cooking an evening meal and breakfast, before packing everything away and continuing the following day to the prescribed pick-up point in time to meet the bus home. All teams successfully completed the 20 DofE conditions of expedition.
🥈 Silver Assessment 2-4 July and 6-8 July
There were 2 trips for Silver candidates with a total of 33 pupils successfully completing their assessment in the White Peak. They explored the wonderful geology of Dovedale and Wolfscote where there are some spectacular cave formations.
"The Silver expedition has shown us we can walk much further than we thought! We had lots of challenges like cows, stinging nettles, getting lost and rain (as soon as we stopped for lunch!!) oh, and steep hills with heavy rucksacks! We have learnt so much about working as a team, communicating better and helping each other. There was a real sense of achievement. Would I do it again? - YES!"
“Silver DofE is a big but great challenge to complete, really testing myself at points. However, I would recommend DofE to anyone willing to test their strength whilst having some fun!”
⛵Silver Sailing Expeditions 2-4 and 19-21 July
There were 2 Silver sailing expeditions in the summer with a total of 11 pupils who completed training or assessment on three boats. Pupils used the school's Cornish Shrimpers to explore the local rivers Orwell and Stour over three days, spending both nights aboard the boats and cooking their own meals. Pupils were responsible for gathering information concerning the tides and the weather before deciding on the best route for their expedition, completing and then executing their passage plan each day. The seven girls undertaking their assessed expedition also spent time interviewing boat owners to find out how they got into sailing and whether they used their vessel for recreational purposes or for another purpose.
🥇Gold residentials throughout the holidays
During the summer holidays a total of 14 Gold candidates completed the residential sections of their awards which involves being away from home for five days, working and living with people you have never met before. This is a fantastic section of the award where young people may be challenged in many ways, not least by travelling to places they have never been, socialising with people they have never met and partaking in activities that may take them outside their comfort zones.
The activities were exciting and varied and included mountain biking, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, tall ship sailing, cookery courses and university summer schools.
