Duke of Edinburgh

What is the Duke of Edinburgh Award?

Download DofE Award Information Booklet

The Duke of Edinburgh Award was established at Louth Academy in September 2023. Our aim is to provide the opportunity for as many students who would like to achieve this award. We encourage students at Louth Academy to achieve Bronze and Silver Awards.

What are our Duke of Edinburgh students involved in?

The Bronze and Silver Awards consist of 4 sections:-

1. Volunteering – Choosing to give time to help people, the community or society, the environment or animals. Volunteering must not be done for a business but can be undertaken for a charity or not-for-profit organisation. Students have enjoyed helping at local nurseries and primary schools, local charity shops and cubs/beaver groups amongst other activities.
2. Physical – any sport, dance or fitness activity – in short, anything that requires a sustained level of energy and physical activity. Typically, students have enjoyed attending sports clubs, gym sessions, taking up walking or jogging and taking part in Zumba.
3. Skill – an activity that will allow you to prove you have broadened your understanding and increased your expertise in your chosen skill. Students have looked at sports leadership, art, cooking, learning a new language and baking.
4. Expedition

The Expedition

Perhaps the most memorable part of the whole award, if not the most enjoyable. This is where the majority of students navigate independently (and cook for themselves) for the first time. As a consequence Louth Academy puts on some additional training to teach the skills that they will require.

Where do we go for the Bronze Expedition?

Students take part in training and practice walks, and then undertake their qualifying expedition in Lincolnshire.

Starting at drop-off points around Horncastle, students make their way around the Lincolnshire Wolds. This is usually done under remote supervision, with adult leaders following the routes some time later, looking for lost souls etc. The students then set up their tents at a chosen campsite, and prepare their own food for dinner.

After spending the night at a campsite and preparing their own breakfast, they set off for the second day, making their way to Louth. Overall, they will have spent 12 hours over the two days walking.

For Silver Expeditions, students will travel further to Yorkshire.

Adult Leaders within Louth Academy

High quality leadership is essential to the success of any scheme, especially one involving children. Louth Academy has ensured to build up quite a broad depth of skills across its leaders. A pool of experienced leaders is available from the teaching staff, support staff, Governors and even past award holders. They all work seamlessly together to try to make the scheme enjoyable and a positive experience for the students. To ensure the standards of the scheme are continuously improving and the students are being led safely at all times, the expedition leaders have undergone formal training, which is delivered, supervised and monitored by Mountain Leader Training / British Mountaineering Council approved suppliers.