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    • DofE

    SILVER AWARD

    The Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is the next step up from Bronze and offers students the chance to build on their skills, confidence, and independence. At John Kyrle High School, the Silver Award is open to students aged 15 and over, usually in Year 10 or above.

    Students do not have to complete Bronze before starting Silver, but having some experience of the programme can be helpful.

    What’s Involved

    To achieve the Silver Award, participants complete four sections — similar to Bronze, but with more time and commitment required in each area:

    • Volunteering – giving time to help others or improve the community. This might include coaching younger students, helping at a local event, supporting a charity, or assisting in school activities.

    • Physical – taking part in regular physical activity and showing improvement in fitness or performance, whether through a sport, gym sessions, dance, or another active pursuit.

    • Skills – developing practical or creative abilities. This could involve learning a new skill, such as cooking, music, debating, coding, or leadership.

    • Expedition – a challenging and rewarding three-day, two-night adventure, where students work in teams to plan and navigate a self-sufficient journey. Participants develop teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience while camping and cooking outdoors.

    The Silver Award typically takes 6–12 months to complete, depending on whether students have already achieved Bronze.

    Why Take Part?

    The Silver Award is an excellent opportunity to:

    • Take on greater challenges and responsibility

    • Strengthen teamwork and leadership skills

    • Gain valuable experience for future education and employment

    • Enjoy the sense of achievement that comes from completing something truly worthwhile

    Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award – Expedition Information (2026)

    Silver Expedition Dates

    The Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Expeditions will take place on the following dates:

    • Silver Practice Expedition:
      Wednesday 3rd – Friday 5th June 2026

    • Silver Qualifying Expedition:
      Wednesday 8th – Friday 10th July 2026

    Students will walk for three consecutive days, camping overnight on the Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Each day will involve approximately 15km of walking, and students will be expected to carry all of their own equipment, clothing and food for the duration of the expedition.

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

    Training and Preparation

    In preparation for the Silver Expedition, students will take part in:

    • After-school training sessions
      Mondays, 3:30pm – 4:30pm

    • Compulsory practice walks (details below)

    These activities are an essential part of preparing students for the demands of the Silver Expedition.

    Silver Practice Walks

    The following practice walks are planned for 2026:

    Malvern Hills

    • Date: Saturday 21st March 2026

    • Meet: 10:00

    • Grid Reference: SO 765 381

    • What3Words: ///adhesive.providing.punt

    • Pick-up: 17:00 (same location)

    Ledbury to Ross (JKHS)

    • Date: Saturday 16th May 2026

    • Meet: 10:00 (Ledbury Rugby Club car park)

    • Grid Reference: SO 700 368

    • What3Words: ///paving.dress.defensive

    • Pick-up: 18:00 at John Kyrle High School

    Students must sign up for each practice walk individually.

    Consent Forms and Sign-Up

    To participate in the Silver practice walks, students must complete the following:

    • JKHS DofE Student Data Collection Form (Silver Practice Walks & Trips 2025–26)
      (This only needs to be completed once and will cover all practice walks.)

    • Microsoft sign-up form for each individual practice walk
      These will be available on the school website and on ClassCharts during the week before each walk.

    Students must sign up by the Thursday prior to each practice walk. - SIGN UP HERE

    Practice walks are a vital part of preparation, and we strongly encourage students to attend wherever possible.

    Kit Required for Practice Walks

    Students will need to bring:

    • Walking boots or sturdy footwear (wellies are not suitable)

    • Waterproof jacket and waterproof trousers

    • Warm clothing (e.g. fleece)

    • Hat and gloves (plus sunhat and suncream if required)

    • Rucksack (20–25 litres)

    • Packed lunch, snacks and plenty of drinks

    • Personal first aid kit, including blister plasters

    • Any required personal medication

    eDofE and Sectional Activities

    Students should be regularly updating their progress on the eDofE portal for all three sections:

    • Physical

    • Skills

    • Volunteering

    For each section, students must record:

    • What activity they are undertaking

    • Start and end dates

    • Personal goals

    • Assessor details

    Assessors must be over 18, cannot be a relative, and must not live in the same household. Contact details must also be provided.

    Once complete, sections must be submitted via eDofE for approval.

    To take part in the Silver Expedition in the Summer Term, students must have:

    • At least two sections completed

    • The third section clearly underway

    Students who cannot access their eDofE account should see Mr Calderbank (Room 138) as a priority.

    Local Volunteering Opportunities

    The Volunteering section can often be the most challenging to arrange. The following local organisations are currently seeking volunteers:

    • Ross Community Litter Group (see Newsletter or speak to Mr Bolt)

    • Ross Court Care Home

    • Halo Leisure

    • Pen y Bryn Animal Sanctuary

    Expedition Assessors – Volunteers Needed

    Expedition Assessors play a vital role in ensuring students complete their expedition safely and in line with The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award requirements.

    John Kyrle High School is seeking volunteers from the local community, including parents, to support the Silver Expeditions.

    • Full training is provided by the DofE

    • Training is free and completed online

    • Assessors support students mainly remotely, meeting groups at checkpoints

    • Ideal for individuals who enjoy walking, the outdoors and camping

    • Prior DofE experience is helpful but not essential

    All assessors work alongside school staff and under the guidance of the JKHS DofE Expedition Supervisor.

    If you are interested in volunteering as an Expedition Assessor, please contact Mr Calderbank at:
    DofE@jkhs.org.uk

     

    Please complete this form to ensure you are signed up for the practice walks - JKHS DofE Student Data Collection Form (Silver Practice Walks & Trips '25-26)

    1. Silver DofE Key Dates 15.1.26

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