In the summer, Oundle School staff succeeded in assessing a number of the School’s Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award expeditions with zero emissions.
Three teaching staff, who are all qualified Duke of Edinburgh Assessors, used a mixture of foot (walking and running), bike, electric car (largely recharged from green energy sources) and even an electric boat to assess the expeditions of over 150 Bronze candidates and six Gold sailors. They covered hundreds of miles checking that the various groups being assessed met the twenty conditions the DofE Scheme, whilst themselves avoiding creating any air pollution or adding any carbon to the atmosphere.
Philip Pitcher, who organises the School’s annual Climate Week said, “Since we constantly ask the pupils to be more aware of their carbon footprint, it seems sensible that we try to do the same.”
Alex Brighton, who recently ran the London Marathon said, “The pupils look at me like I’m a bit mad when I turn up in running kit, but considering that we already know the route and aren’t carrying big packs, we’ve got it easy in comparison.”
The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a four section programme with three progressive levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. A specific time on Wednesday afternoons is set aside for Oundle pupils to receive instruction and guidance.
Head of DofE, Trudie Raftery commented, “All Third Form (Year 9) pupils are strongly encouraged to partake in the Bronze level, with the Silver and Gold levels being entirely voluntary thereafter. It offers a constructive individual challenge, enjoyable activities and encourages personal development. It also helps to develop initiative and organisation, and always includes an Expedition, which has sometimes been completed in a foreign country.
At any one time, from the Third Form to the Upper Sixth, almost half the School is involved in the scheme, making Oundle’s Award group one of the largest of any school in the country.”