Duke of Edinburgh

Doing the Duke of Edinburgh Award at Great Yarmouth Charter Academy

We are delighted to be able to offer the Duke of Edinburgh Award Programmed at Charter.

From Year 9, pupils can enrol at Bronze Level, and complete all four sections with the support of a dedicated team of staff.  Pupils are able to access in-house school activities to complete their volunteering, physical and skills sections.  In addition to this, we run training and practice for the expedition, and the qualifying expedition itself.

The school supports pupils by providing all the necessary expedition equipment and has access to some funding for additional costs where needed.

Pupils can develop their skills outside of school too, and we are building links with community groups which can enable pupils to participate in a range of activities.

Beyond the Bronze Award, Charter offers a progression route to Silver and in partnership with other local providers, to Gold too.

It is a fully inclusive programme - all we ask for is commitment!

For more information about the Duke of Edinburgh Award Programme at Charter, please contact - Anne Severino and Denis Hellebrandt.

DofE Parents Information Booklet

Charter pupils go exploring with the Duke of Edinburgh Award

During the summer term of 2022, two groups of pupils from Great Yarmouth Charter Academy completed their Bronze or Silver qualifying expeditions.

Thirty-two Year 9 pupils met the success criteria for Bronze.  Following weeks of training - route planning, First Aid training, map reading, cooking, pitching tents and teamwork - they were ready to undertake two days of walking and one night of camping.  Carrying all their camping equipment, they began their expedition at Acle, walked along the River Thurne, and across fields to Broad Farm in Fleggburgh.  After an evening of football, card games and resting, they were ready for Day 2 - a longer walk from Fleggburgh, to Ormesby, Hemby and finishing in Martham.  Despite the heat and weight of the rucksacks, the staff were impressed by their determination to keep going.  In typical Charter fashion, one group recited Invictus to keep up their pace and focus in the final stretch.

Eight Key Stage 4 pupils continued their Duke of Edinburgh progression journey by completing their Silver Expedition.  Centred around Breck Farm campsite near Holt, the pupils undertook 3 days of walking (approximately 42kms) and 2 nights of camping (sharing the campsite for one night with the Duke of Edinburgh team from Cromer).  The environment was more challenging - covering the beach, heathland and woodland routes.  Again, the group demonstrated their skills in planning, map reading, teamwork and cooking.  During a celebration assembly, they inspired the Bronze cohort to continue their DofE journey to Silver.

As Charter grows with Sir Issac Newton East, we plan to offer the Gold Award - the ultimate challenge!