Duke of Edinburgh's Award

You can start the Bronze Award when you are in the school year in which you will turn 14. The opportunity to do the Bronze Award commences in the September of Year 9 and is led by Miss Smith and her team.

The Bronze Award programme has 4 sections - Volunteering, Physical, Skills and Expedition. You must do a minimum of 3 months activity for each of the Volunteering, Physical and Skills sections.

Expedition section enables participants to learn to navigate using a map and compass and to become self-sufficient whilst exploring the countryside. Participants must plan and execute a self-sufficient expedition within a team of 7. Participants undertake orienteering practice locally before the expedition which takes place in the Chiltern hills for 2 days and 1 night.

You can start the Silver Award when you are in the school year in which you will turn 15, The opportunity to do the Silver Award commences in the September of Year 10 and is led by Miss Smith and her team.

The Silver Award programme has 4 sections - Volunteering, Physical, Skills and Expedition. You must do a minimum of 6 months for Volunteering, and one of Physical and Skills for 6 months and the other for 3. It is participants choice which they choose to do for longer. 

Expedition section enables participants to develop their navigation skills learnt during their Bronze award by executing 2 self-sufficient expeditions within a team of 7. These take place in the Forest of Dean for practice then Dorset for the assessed.

We encourage students to complete the Bronze award prior to undertaking Silver.

You can start the Gold Award when you are in the school year in which you will turn 17. The opportunity to do the Gold Award will therefore commence in the September of Year 12 and will be led by Miss Smith and her team.

The Gold Award programme has 5 sections - Volunteering, Physical, Skills, Residential and Expedition. You need to do at least 12 months Volunteering and a minimum of 12 months on either Physical or Skills and 6 months on the other. It is up to you which one you do for longer.

Expedition section enables participants to extend their navigation and camping skills learnt during their Silver award by executing 2 self-sufficient expeditions within a team of 7. These take place in the Brecon Beacons for practice then Dartmoor for assessed.

The residential section is independently organised and an opportunity for participants to meet new people. this section would involve spending 5 days and 4 nights in a new environment.

As part of the cost, the majority of kit is provided by The Langley Academy.

A kit list is provided by The Langley Academy however more information can be found on the D of E website - www.DofE.org/shopping/expedition-kit

We loan students Tents, Trangia’s, Gas, Maps, Compasses, sleeping mats and Rucksacks. If needed, we do have some sleeping bags which we lend out however most students prefer to have their own.

The essential kit not provided is Walking boots and Expedition food. We recommend purchasing walking boots early following the advise below.