Subject Lead - Mr James Britton 

or OutdoorEducation@gts.devon.sch.uk

Teachers - Mrs Lara Couch, Mr Steven Beams, Ms Fay Fisher and Mrs Zoe Robertson-Neave

Helpers - Mrs Louise Leonard

Here at GTS we believe that our growing outdoor learning provision truly reflects our 6 school values of relationships, respect, health, responsibility, resilience, and opportunity. This translates into our inclusive approach to learning that:

• involves being outdoors as a central part of the experience
• is open to all
• strives to use the outdoor environment as a vehicle for transforming the experience into knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours
• often involves some physical activity
• always respects the environment
• is both memorable and fun

Outdoor learning provides opportunities to develop social and emotional resilience which is vitally important for a young person’s life chances through supporting wider learning across the curriculum whilst simultaneously providing essential skills for life in both employment and as part of wider society. 

All pupils have a range of outdoor learning opportunities through the E&I programme and we encourage and welcome all pupils to get involved in at least one per year. Pupils also have the opportunity to participate in the ski trip to Pila, Italy and, on alternate years, an adventurous activity trip to the Ardèche in France.

GTS is a Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) centre, giving pupils in Years 9, 10 and 11 the opportunity to obtain either their Bronze or Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award. This runs every Monday during term time as an after school club in C3.  It starts on the first Monday back after October Half Term and finishes end of Spring Term), with the Practice Expeditions planned for March and the Qualifying Expedition planned for the Summer Term (dates confirmed around September).

As the DofE Award is very popular we have certain Expectations before you can register for the Scheme in Year 9...

• Your attendance must be above 94%, if unsure fill out the form at the bottom of this page - as we do check!
• Homework must be completed and handed in on time!
• To attend at least 90% of the DofE after-school club on a Monday throughout the year
• To be committed to the training programme
• To act appropriately when out on Expeditions – you are representing the school
• To follow all instructions from staff at all times
• To be resilient – it will be tough at times, but well worth it!

With Dartmoor, Exmoor and the North Devon Coast all a short drive from Great Torrington, it's not surprising that we have a thriving and varied outdoor programme. 

We have around 50 pupils participating in the scheme currently and have a good number of qualified and experienced staff to help pupils meet their goals. 

Kit lists and other relevant information to support your DofE are below. 

Costs

Bronze DofE - £45 includes Practice Expedition

Silver DofE - £50 includes Practice Expedition

The Bronze Practice Expedition will be on South Dartmoor and is usually the last weekend in March. You will only be allowed to partake in the Practice Expedition if you have actually stated what you are doing for each of the sections and have started to upload evidence onto eDofE.

However, at Bronze level, there is no requirement to partake in a Practice Expedition (see below from the DofE website)...

Participants must be adequately trained to safely complete an expedition in the environment in which they will be operating:

• Bronze: Teams must complete the required training. The Monday after school sessions fulfill this requirement. 

The Silver Practice Expedition will also be on South Dartmoor and is usually the first weekend in March. 

• Silver: Teams must complete the required training and a practice expedition of a minimum 2 days, 2 nights. This means pupils will go down Friday after school for their Practice Expedition.

The Bronze Qualifying Expedition is usually 1 or 2 weekends in July before we break up, depending on numbers and staff availability. To be eligible for the Qualifying Expedition you must have completed all 3 sections by this date - so once the Expedition is complete we can award you the Bronze Award before we break up.

The Silver Qualifying Expedition is TBC as it requires 3 full days, plus a day extra for travel if the team has decided to go further a field.

The Qualifying Expedition is priced separately as it depends on where we go, but we have been to Hartland/ Clovelly, Exmoor and Dartmoor to name a few places.

Ten Tors (Yr 10 only) - £55 includes all day walks and camps

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (as taken from the DofE website)

A life-changing experience. A fun time with friends. An opportunity to discover new interests and talents. A tool to develop essential skills for life and work. A recognised mark of achievement; respected by employers.

The DofE is many things to many people, supporting generations to successfully navigate adult life.

14-24 year-olds can do a DofE programme at one of three progressive levels which, when successfully completed, leads to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

There are four sections to complete at Bronze and Silver level and five at Gold. They involve helping the community/environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills, planning, training for and completing an expedition and, for Gold only, working with a team on a residential activity.

Any young person can do their DofE – regardless of ability, gender, background or location. Achieving an Award isn’t a competition or about being first. It’s all about setting personal challenges and pushing personal boundaries.

Through a DofE programme young people have fun, make friends, improve their self-esteem and build confidence. They gain essential skills and attributes for work and life such as resilience, problem-solving, team-working, communication and drive, enhancing CVs and uni and job applications. Top employers recognise the work-ready skills Award holders bring to their business.