The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme is offered as an extra-curricular activity at Silver and Gold level.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme is offered as an extra-curricular activity at both Silver and Gold level and is very popular.

The Silver award is offered to those who are members of the CCF. It normally takes twelve months to complete with much of the expedition training being part of the CCF training packages. The practice expeditions will be in the local area, and will be offered either side of the Easter break, before the main GCSE exams start. The assessed expedition will be in Scotland but in a more remote area. It will involve a 3 day, two night trip with at least one group using canoes as their mode of transport. The expeditions will be towards the end of June, after the GCSE exams have finished.

The award also requires 12 months of service. Being an active member of the CCF and undertaking at least one visit to camp or a course will cover this. The cadets also need to work to improve a skill and to participate in a physical recreation. There are many possibilities for the last two (see the D of E website) but they need to be discussed in advance with the person who will monitor and report on their progress in order to sign their record book at the end of the required period.

The Gold Award is more demanding and has five sections. Expeditions in recent years have tended to be abroad and we have taken Gold Expeditions to Norway, Iceland, the USA, Morocco and France. These usually take place in the summer holidays. Most participants do their Service Section (60 hours) on a Wednesday afternoon either in the CCF or by undertaking Community Service. They must also complete at least twelve months of a skill and physical recreation, and attend a residential course. This has to be a minimum of five days and four nights away from home on community service work or training. It takes a minimum of 18 months to complete Gold and it calls for a large degree of determination and self-motivation. On average between twenty and thirty Glenalmond pupils successfully complete their Gold Award each year.

Contact: Mr Trevor Rowell (trevorrowell@glenalmondcollege.co.uk)