Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Powerpoint presentation given by Barbara Farmer to the Award Officers/organisers of the North East Region after winning the Association of Colleges Beacon Award.
Introduction
A team of six college staff, under the leadership of Barbara Farmer, run the Duke of Edinburgh Gold scheme with around 150 students involved annually. This number is greater than for the whole of the rest of West Yorkshire and indeed is one of the largest centres nationally. The principles involved match college principles based on the belief that members of the community have a responsibility to each other and that community and voluntary service is an essential part of good citizenship.
- Each participant must undertake a community service, learn a new skill and take part in a physical activity, each over a sustained period of time (one year plus) on a regular weekly basis. In addition, they have to undertake the preparation, planning and organisation of a four day, three night hike in the hills and mountains in teams of 4-7students and also be involved in a residential project of some type. The hike takes place in July of year one, following three practice sessions throughout the year at weekends. It is easy to understand the commitment of the staff involved in the organisation of this which requires significant human resources.
The present provision is offered to all young people who attend the college, and, by agreement, to others living in the area. Nearly all start at Gold Level: only a quarter, approximately, have been previously involved, usually through school or scouts, guides, etc.
Beacon Award 2000/1
Greenhead College received a Beacon Award in recognition of encouraging good citizenship. The Duke of Edinburgh's Unit Leader at Greenhead College is Barbara Farmer. |
 |
Numbers Involved
|
Year
|
Intake
|
Year
|
Intake
|
Year
|
Intake
|
|
1989
|
14
|
1993
|
29
|
1997
|
63
|
|
1990
|
7
|
1994
|
24
|
1998
|
75
|
|
1991
|
14
|
1995
|
52
|
1999
|
72
|
|
1992
|
22
|
1996
|
48
|
2000
|
81
|
Community Involvement
- First Aid and St John's Service
- Old People's homes
- Charity shops (cancer relief, hospices, etc)
- Conservation (drystone walling for the National Trust)
- After School Care Cubs, nurseries, school sport, etc
- Sports Clubs (tennis, hockey, etc)
- BTCV
- Kirkwood Hospice
- Mountain Rescue
How the Scheme is Organised at Greenhead
We are faced with students
- from around 40 different feeder schools
- with no prior involvement in the Award
- with some involvement but Awards incomplete
- with achievement of the Bronze or Silver Award
In response, we have established an extensive induction programme for new students including:
PRE-ENTRY INFORMATION: reference is made to the scheme in our Prospectus, on Open Evenings and now, on our website: it is emphasised as a significant item amongst our Enrichment offerings. Interested students can discuss it in interviews with senior staff before coming to college, and can see the unit leader on our Open Evenings. Sometimes contact is made directly from the partner school. If possible, we try to engage students in the scheme as soon as they have finished their GCSEs, but recruitment carries on through the summer and beyond the start of term. We include information on 'D of E' in the pack we send to all new students in the weeks before they arrive in September, and the opportunity to learn more, or sign up, is built into our enrolment process on the first day in college. More detail is included in the Enrichment leaflet given to every student on the third day of the first term, used as a guide to help them select their compulsory enrichment options at the start of their second week in college.
INTRODUCTORY EVENINGS: these are for all prospective participants who have intimated an interest in the award. The students and their parents are informed about its structure by video and literature. (This year's pre-meeting, on June 29th, attracted more than 50 up-and-coming students, with many parents in tow: consequently, 20 came on July 12th, after our term had finished, for a two hour induction session, and followed this with a day's practice expedition on July 17th. Those who already have the Silver Award then were ready to undertake the actual Gold qualifying expedition, in the Dales, at October half term.)
STUDENT HANDBOOK/STARTER PACK: on starting the award students are issued with this alongside their official Record Book. It includes information on the staff in the unit, the structure of the Gold Award, the requirements for obtaining it, examples of practice such as navigation and First Aid etc.
RESOURCE AREA: the Unit has its own resource area (which is currently being relocated to a new room with an adjoining store) where the participants have open access to staff wo can offer help, guidance and support throughout their involvement in the award. The resource area is a focal point where students can get to know all the staff.
THE TEACHING STAFF regularly involved include the unit leader, and six others who all give time at lunchtime and weekends.
EACH STUDENT IS PLACED IN A GROUP of 4 to 7 and supervised by one member of staff to oversee the expedition/exploration part of the Award. Also, the Unit leader gives the group advice and guidance on other sections of the Award, eg Physical Recreation, Skill, Service and Residential Projects.
BRONZE AND SILVER AWARDS: students are able to complete previous levels of the award whilst at college before going on to take part in the Gold Award. New participants will go directly onto the Gold level.
CONTINUOUS INFORMAL MONITORING of participants is carried out by the Unit. The minimum length of time to complete it is eighteen months but this is exceptional. Therefore, monitoring continues even when the participants have finished their studies in college. The unit leader writes to, or phones, them on a termly basis to track progress and encourage them towards completion.