The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme has been a central part of life at South for over 20 years.

We are the largest DofE Centre in the UK, with over 500 students and 75 staff involved every year. Students complete their Awards almost entirely outside curriculum time, and staff give their time voluntarily. Alongside unique events like the Eisteddfod, the DofE scheme sets South apart from all other schools because of the scale and comprehensiveness of the scheme. Students from all backgrounds benefit from their involvement in the Award scheme. They are supported by a staff team that includes teaching assistants, support staff, teachers and most of the senior staff.

Parents Launch Information Video

The video below replaces the Parents Information Evening which usually takes place in the autumn term. All parents at Bronze, Silver and Gold are strongly advised to watch it. It contains essential advice for parents which will enable them to support their sons and daughters to be successful, for example:

• How to choose activities for each section that will meet the criteria and not be queried or rejected at enrolment or (even worse...) rejected at the verification stage after the activity has finished and the assessor report has been uploaded.
• How the requirements for Volunteering, Physical and Skill have been temporarily amended in 2020-2021 as a result of Coronavirus.
• Our approach to Expeditions in 2021 and our money-back guarantee. Note that enrolment/admin fees payable in the autumn term are not refundable.
• The importance of parents/carers regularly checking the progress of their son/daughter on eDofE and helping them to arrange for the assessors to upload their reports.

The video is 36 minutes long, which is about as long as you would have spent listening to Mr Dixon talking from the stage, but at least this year you can enjoy a cup of tea and some biscuits, and the luxury of your own sofa, rather than the uncomfortable plastic chairs in the Hall. You might like to watch it in instalments rather than straight through in one hit. This year it is up to you!