Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Ryde School’s Extra-Curricular Programme has consistently been graded as excellent by ISI inspections. Pupils are expected to take part in at least one extra-curricular activity each week, with Years 7 - 9 expected to take two and we hope that most pupils will participate far more than this. The school has a busy evening and weekend programme of sport, music and drama amongst other activities and pupils are actively encouraged to commit to practices, performances and fixtures. Pupils in Year 10 can choose to take part in either the Combined Cadet Force or the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme.
Ryde School is a Duke of Edinburgh's Award Directly Licensed Centre, allowing us to deliver and authorise Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. Typically, we have 25 students enrolled at Gold level, 35 at Silver and just over 70 at Bronze level.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award aims to provide an enjoyable, challenging and rewarding programme of personal development for young people. The key principles are that the Award is:
- Non-competitive
- Flexible
- Available to all
- Balanced
- Voluntary
- Progressive
- Focused on achievement
- Enjoyable
The minimum entry age for Bronze is 14 years, Silver is 15 years and Gold is 16 years. At Ryde, the Bronze Award is started at the end of Year 9 for most pupils, Silver in Year 11 and Gold is started in Year 12 (although not finished until Year 13). While it is best to start at Bronze and work up this is by no means the only way and students regularly start at Silver and Gold Award level.
At each level participants undertake an activity from each of the following sections:
- Volunteering
- Physical Recreation
- Skill
- Expedition
- Residential (Gold Award only)
A weekly session allows pupils time to train and prepare for their expeditions. Bronze expeditions take place in the New Forest and the Isle of Wight, Silver expeditions take place in Exmoor and Dartmoor. At Gold level, expeditions venture further afield, with regular visits to the Brecon Beacons, Snowdonia, the Lake District and the Highlands of Scotland. Those who complete their Gold Award are invited to St James’s Palace where they are presented with their Award certificate.
