The Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is the first level of the DofE programme and a fantastic way

for students to develop independence, confidence, and new skills. At John Kyrle High School, the Bronze Award is open to students aged 14 and over, usually in Year 9. It is a great introduction to the DofE journey and sets the foundation for moving on to the Silver and Gold Awards.

What’s Involved

To achieve the Bronze Award, students complete four exciting and varied sections:

• Volunteering – helping others in the community or school. This could include assisting at a local sports club, supporting younger students, helping at a charity shop, or taking part in an environmental project.

• Physical – getting active and improving fitness through any sport, dance, or physical activity such as football, running, swimming, or yoga.

• Skills – learning something new or developing an existing talent, such as cooking, photography, first aid, or learning a musical instrument.

• Expedition – the highlight of the award! Students plan, train for, and complete a two-day, one-night expedition in a small team. They learn navigation, teamwork, campcraft, and resilience while exploring the countryside.

Each section is completed over a set period of time, usually taking six months in total to finish the Bronze Award.

Why Take Part?

The Bronze Award is a fantastic opportunity to:

• Try new activities and develop valuable life skills

• Build confidence, teamwork, and leadership

• Make new friends and have fun outdoors

• Gain an award recognised by universities and employers

At JKHS, students are fully supported throughout their Bronze DofE journey by Mr Calderbank and the DofE team, who provide training, guidance, and encouragement every step of the way.

2026 Bronze Expedition

The Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Expedition will take place on Thursday 18th and Friday 19th June 2026.

Students will be walking for two days, with an overnight camp on Thursday evening. Each day will involve approximately 12 km of walking, and students will be required to carry all of their own kit, clothing, and food to support themselves over the two days.

Further details about the expedition will be shared later in the year.

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Preparation and Training

In preparation for the expedition, students will take part in:

• A series of practice walks (details below)

• After-school training sessions, held on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30–5:00 pm

These sessions are designed to build confidence, fitness, and the practical skills needed for the expedition.

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Bronze Practice Walks 2026

The following practice walks will take place as part of the preparation programme:

• Chase and Penyard Hill - Please fill out THIS FORM to sign up to this event
  24 January 2026
  Meet at 10:00 am, JKHS
  Grid reference: SO 604 252

• Ganarew to Monmouth
  18 April 2026
  Meet at 10:00 am, Ganarew car park
  Grid reference: SO 534 163

• Kempley
  9 May 2026
  Meet at 10:00 am, Queens Wood car park, Kempley
  Grid reference: SO 678 284

Consent Forms

To participate in any of the practice walks, students must have completed and returned a consent form.

Further information will be shared with students and parents/carers nearer the time.

Please complete this form with your child's details.  This information will be held to be used for all DofE activities - Practice Walks, trips etc (a separate form will be issued for the Expedition).  In order to reduce replication you will only need to fill out additional forms if your Son/Daughter's details change - please inform us if this is the case.

Please note: You will need to complete a separate, brief MS Form to indicate if your child intends to attend each Practice Walk.