Bronze DofE 2024–2025: A Brilliant Qualifying Expedition!

Last Thursday and Friday marked the final stage in the Bronze DofE journey for 127 of our fantastic Year 9 students, who completed their Qualifying Expedition with energy, enthusiasm, and a brilliant sense of adventure.

The students set off from Welwyn North Station Car Park, heading out in small teams to navigate their way between checkpoints using only the route plans they’d created and their own map and compass skills. Unlike their Practice Expedition in March, where instructors walked alongside them, this expedition was remotely supervised, meaning students navigated independently and checked in at designated points. The level of confidence and capability they displayed was exceptional.

Their March practice had prepared them well – despite the freezing conditions and even snow on their tents at Danesmead Scout Campsite earlier in the year, they showed resilience and adaptability. That same determination was on full display last week. This time around, the weather was kinder, and the atmosphere even more uplifting.

On Thursday evening, after a long day of walking, groups set up camp and enjoyed a sociable night around the fire. Highlights included a very lively “pub without a pub” quiz, plenty of toasted marshmallows, and the heart-warming sight of students playing frisbee with Koa the golden retriever (who was especially grateful to those who shared their sausages!).

Throughout the two days, it was a pleasure to watch students working together with maturity, kindness, and a genuine sense of camaraderie. Their teamwork, navigational skills, and positive attitudes were consistently impressive. We’re proud of the way they supported one another and made the most of every challenge thrown their way.

Most of the students have now also completed their Volunteering, Physical, and Skills sections, with many final assessor reports already submitted. This means that for the majority, their full Bronze Award is nearly ready to be approved by the County team — a brilliant achievement!

Looking ahead, we’re excited to launch the Silver DofE programme later this term. We really hope many of our Bronze participants will take the next step. The Silver expeditions take place in the beautiful Chiltern Hills, where the routes are more challenging, the views are stunning, and the campsites are among our absolute favourites. And because they’ve already completed Bronze, students are eligible for a reduced Silver timescale of just 6 months, making it very manageable alongside Year 10 studies.

A huge well done to every single student who took part — your determination, teamwork, and humour made this experience a joy for all involved. We can’t wait to see where your DofE journey takes you next.

Miss Haywood, DofE Coordinator