Bronze Assessment

Hove Park School is an officially licensed provider of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

How does anyone know you have achieved the award?

To obtain the award you must have evidence of your activities in each section of the program and an assessor report. This can be written by your assessor directly onto your log through the assessor portal. You can use this link here which you need to send to your assessor when you have completed your activities. You can also give your assessor the designated page in your paper log book which you then photograph and upload to your website once the report is written.


Your assessor can be a family friend, tutor or a teacher or coach or any responsible adult, but especially someone who knows about the activity you are doing. They do not have to watch you every time- for example if you were cooking, your assessor could be a family friend and you could keep them updated on what you have cooked and share photos etc.

 

Your assessor cannot be a family member


To find out more about assessment, read this information on the DofE website.

If you are having problems finding an assessor, talk to the DofE staff at Hove Park- you can email here: thunting@hovepark.org.uk


An assessor report request model letter to email is here:

Parents: Completion guidance is here:

The expedition: new page?

The expedition is the highlight for many who do the Duke of Edinburgh award. It can be the most challenging and rewarding section. To get a flavour of an expedition watch this video [here]. It is designed to be achievable by absolutely everyone, as long as the 20 Conditions are observed, and you observe the Countryside Code (see below x2 ) expeditions are successful.

Flavour of an expedition 1 min https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b-GSGpB2pM

or these videos made by Hove Park students in previous years [here]

Blacks team work and life skills https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtMK-Zg13BE

Blacks Doe expedition https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haeghnCTpKk 


At Hove Park School our expeditions are run in-house by trained staff qualified in group management in the countryside, navigation and first aid. They volunteer their time.

At Bronze, we have an expedition training programme which runs after school for 40 minutes. Details of the course are further below, with more information about planning. [Dates tbc.]


We also have a practice expedition for all students where you try out your navigation skills, campcraft and cooking, as well as have the experience of planning and walking a route, setting and breaking camp. This means that the later assessed expedition is a real opportunity to demonstrate what has been learned and achieve a successful outcome. The practice expedition is on a Friday in term time walking to and camping at a designated campsite near the South Downs.. Ity finishes Saturday morning [Date tbc]

Our assessed expeditions take place in the summer term over two days camping overnight at a campsite in the South Downs National Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty. [Dates tbc]


Students are in teams of 4-7 and you walk together as a group along a route you have planned on official footpaths, using OS Maps and compass and the navigation skills you have acquired.


The staff will support you at road crossings and at check points throughout your journey to ensure safety. Staff are present at the campsite at all times, but the aim is to ensure an enjoyable experience for all with the opportunity to demonstrate responsibility and independence.  You will be carefully trained in the use of cooking equipment provided by the school. Tents are also provided.


To find out more about preparing, there are details of the kit list [here] which is only a guide, it must be stressed. More details will be sent out.


There is also a meal planner [here]; information about eating on expedition (here) and typical bronze expedition food (here).  These will be covered in the training programme.

 Route planning and training take place in after-school sessions. A copy of the programme for 2020-21 will be available here:


You can also watch these videos about navigation basics from Ordnance Survey and Glenmore Lodge training centre:


OS 8 videos on map reading

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJp4yCtYcXprknSY_FAUpWG5ZbDwHmfY7

Glenmore lodge: 7 introductory videos on navigation

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrqtph4KNo5dZfq5DIkWbPSctL6eQ_wF7

These form part of the after-school training programme.  Basic map-reading skills and navigation will be taught.

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DofE News

Duke of Edinburgh Award Diamond Fund

By Hove Park School • 18 Feb, 2021
Hove Park School is delighted to have been awarded an £800 grant from the Duke of Edinburgh Award Diamond Fund to train staff. This training is essential to the safe running of DofE expeditions. Many teachers are already qualified in many of the skills needed to lead outdoor expeditions and this will support others in training. 'This will ensure we can run expeditions ourselves, with the high levels of safety expected.' Mr Hunting, the DofE Coordinator said, 'It will help the school to become more self-sufficient when it comes to running expeditions. This has always been one of our goals for the school because it means expeditions are more affordable so that everyone at Hove Park can be encouraged and supported to undertake at least the Bronze award'. Hove Park school is about 'Achieving Together' and providing students with the opportunity to develop rounded skills and experience the benefits of outdoor education, and this Diamond Fund Award really helps us to do so!  Jim Roberts Head teacher said ‘The Duke of Edinburgh award is an important part of our Every Child Should strategy in which we have identified 8 themes that we want all children that come to Hove Park to have experienced in their time with us, including spending a night under the stars. Mr Hunting and his team have done an incredible job in developing our Duke of Edinburgh provision and ensuring it is accessible to all students. We are looking forward to a time when we can re-start the planning and get children enjoying the outdoors again.’
Bronze Duke of Edinburgh students

Bronze Duke of Edinburgh

By Hove Park School • 16 Jul, 2019
Thirty nine intrepid year 9 students completed their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh assessed expedition on the South Downs over two days, camping overnight at Hillside, the scout camp at Small Dole. On Sunday, from the beginning they successfully navigated their way independently in teams from Cissbury Ring, working together and supporting each other to get to their overnight destination. They cooked meals and pitched tent for the night, with stunning views of the South Downs and lovely countryside around. Apart from a few drops of ran at the beginning, the day was perfect for walking, with sunshine breaking out as the day progressed. The next day the teams walked up onto the South Downs ridge, climbing the 105 metre ascent of Edburton Hill with full packs, along to the Dyke, then Saddlescombe, then to finish at Waterhall. Bright Expeditions who organised what was an extremely successful expedition, said all the groups had passed their assessment well, and they were impressed by their organisation, behaviour, teamwork and competence at camp craft and navigation. Thank you to Bright expeditions for their excellent work and to all the staff who helped on the trip and the support staff who helped to make it happen or covered lessons on the second day (Monday).

Duke of Edinburgh update

By Hove Park School • 24 May, 2019
Forty-two year 9 students set of on their Duke of Edinburgh practice expedition for their Bronze award this bright Thursday morning! They left in seven groups from the Valley Campus and walked out of the conurbation to join the South Downs way in the sparkling May sunshine. They have journeyed in groups up and down on footpaths to the village of Pyecombe where they are stopping for lunch. They are continuing to Ditchling where they will camp for the night, accompanied by Hove Park Staff and Bright Expeditions, who are training them in micro-navigation in preparation for their Assessed Expedition, in July.
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