We aim to encourage as many Year 12 students as possible to develop their independence, resilience, interpersonal and problem solving skills; qualities and skills that employees and university admission tutors will look for.

Our students have planned personal goals which challenge them to learn and develop  new skills over a 12 month period of time. Students participating in the Silver DofE award will have completed the course by end of Year 12, allowing them to focus on their final exams in Year 13. Our students have often successfully achieved a variety of volunteering, skill based, expedition and physical challenges. Here are a sample of their chosen challenges :

• Learning how to drive / passing their driving licence
• Learning to speak another language; Spanish, German, Italian and Mandarin
• Learning to play the ukulele or even aiming to pass their grade 7 in guitar, Cello.
• Taking part in a yoga course, learning kick boxing/karate or aiming to improve their performance in their present sports of Netball, Lacrosse, Rugby and Football.
• Completing the coach to 5K challenge or training to complete a bike, hike, swim or run challenge from 5k, 10k, half marathon,  and Swimming Marathons.
• Making a difference in your community by developing compassion helping people with special needs, or old age; to helping in an animal sanctuary.
• Learning expedition skills from campcraft, navigating to cooking and team-work completing two -3 day/2 night expeditions in the Peak District.

Currently, our Year 12 DofE Silver students have supported our Intervention Programmes in Key Stage 3 with mentoring students in Maths and English. We also have some students that are now leading Cubs in the Scout Association to develop their leadership skills.

Our Silver Award students will complete an expedition training day in March and will then plan a route card for their adventure to the Peaks.  Once is training is complete, students will undertake 2 x three day, two night practise and qualifying expeditions. 

DofE students are also encouraged to take part in the National Citizenship Service (NCS) to complete their residential section where they will develop their citizenship skills with external organisations. Some of our students have already completed this requirement.

There are exciting times ahead with the new challenges that many of the students at Altrincham College face in the upcoming year!

The whole programme is supported with a lesson of 6th form enrichment which supports the planning, physical health and fitness challenges, along with first aid and self-defence skills to boost their life and employability skills.  Students who are applying to university or for degree apprenticeships have a wealth of experiences to write about, thanks to their participation in the DofE programme.