Duke of Edinburgh Award Round Up 2023

This year has seen us successfully run Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards across Year 10, Year 11 and Sixth Form. We had a total of  54 students enrolled at various levels and we ran a total of 8 expeditions this year!

The students dedicated a total of 754 hours during their respective volunteering section of the Award. These hours were made up by the students taking on numerous environmental tasks and performing a Coastal Beach Clean project. These activities were undertaken during the coldest months of the year and required resilience, determination and lot of physical effort!

The skills section of the award saw our students complete a basic outdoor first aid course and learn important outdoor skills such as navigation, map reading, nutrition and menu planning, cooking outdoors, rucksack packing and erecting tents in preparation for their expedition.

For the physical section our Bronze students undertook weekly gym sessions, whilst our Silver and Gold students embarked on weekly walks in the local area after planning their own routes.

We must not forget to mention once again our amazing trip to Buckingham Palace to celebrate our Gold Award holder Aaron!

We are extremely proud of the effort the groups have put into their Awards this year and hope you enjoy looking at a selection of pictures from their expeditions this year.

WELL DONE ALL !!!!

                           

                           

           

                    

  

 

                            

 

 

 

 

 

Looking after your Wellbeing Online

It has given us online gaming, social media and streaming but the internet can  also exposelooking-after-your-wellbeing-online (1)
us to things that don’t make us feel good about ourselves.  This helpful factsheet provides tips for protecting young people’s wellbeing.

9H – Hall Hill Farm

9H continued working towards our AQA qualification – Wildlife Photography. For this, we took a trip to Hall Hill Farm in Lanchester. We had an absolutely fantastic time; we fed lambs, cows, goats and sheep; we held chicks,
rabbits and Guinea pigs. We had lunch al fresco, and burnt off some energy in the park. A quick stop in the cafe for an ice cream and drink, then back to school. rabbits and Guinea pigs. We had lunch al fresco, and burnt off some energy in the park. A quick stop in the cafe for an ice cream and drink, then back to school.

After school club for parents – register interest

Multiply after school club

Dinner Arrangements for September

Dinner costs and arrangements

9H – Wynyard Trip

This afternoon 9H ventured over to Wynyard Woodland Walk, to continue our AQA qualification exploring nature through photography. We explored various sites, took many photos, and then had a good burn off of energy on the climbing apparatus.

 

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Masonic Fishing Charity Experience Day

On Saturday 8th July Mr Frew and Mrs Gilbert took 8 of our students to Aldin Grange Fisheries near Bearpark in Durham.  This day was organised by the Masonic Fishing Charity, a charity set up to offer children with special needs or from low economic areas the opportunity to experince a days fishing and the benefits it can bring.  The days are completely free of charge with the venue, use of tackle, food, drink and prizes all included in the day.  The students were welcomed and paired up with a volunteer adult support person called a caster helper.  They then fished from 9:45am till 12 noon, some on the coarse fishing lake and some learning how to cast a fly an catch trout on one of the trout fishing lakes.  They rotated between the two on the day, so they all had the opportunity to experience both styles of fishing. After lunch they fished again from 1-3pm, when they then headed into one of the farms barns for the award and presentation ceremony.  Each student received a certificate, medal and fishing trophy awarded for something memorable each student had expereinced on the day.  These ranged from most fish, biggest fish, most improved, funniest laugh and all the way to the must trees caught!

A phrase the charity like to use is “to catch a smile” and here are some photos taken on the day to see those smiles… Many more will be added at a later date once they have all been vetted and processed.

 

Rights Respecting School – friendship projects

This term students have been producing some small projects based aroung friendship and what it means to them.  Here are some examples of the work they have been producing to show their thoughts and ideas.  Mrs Brooms group video is a must watch!!

  

Summer Holiday Activities

SEND FF Timetable

7T Woodland Walk

Yesterday, 7T went on a trip to Hardwick Park to complete an AQA Woodland Walk.

We had so much fun looking for the Gruffalo, walking through the woods and along the lake and playing in the park.

9H – trip to Durham

On Wednesday 9H set off to Durham to continue learning about bridges. We walked across several bridges, as well as walking down to the riverside to see the structures from underneath.

As the rain started to come down we stopped off for a well deserved drink and a second breakfast!

8F : Durham Doors

Year 8 have been working on an art project called Durham Doors recently. Their work has focussed on the main door at Durham Cathedral. They have produced some lovely 3D models of the doorway.