Term Four | 2023/24

It has been another session for both participants and leaders.

8 Bronze, 12 Silver, 2 Gold participants have been involved in a wide range of activities for their respective DofE programmes, including:

• Volunteering – volunteering with local sports clubs (swimming and badminton), SMA Eco Committee, SMA Science Club, Hillside Church, SMA Netball Club, Sunnybank School, SMA Pupil Leadership Team, St Macchiato, British Red Cross, Banardos, and The Boys' Brigade.

• Physical – football, swimming, walking, gym work, badminton, ballet, table tennis, tennis, running, climbing, and Bharatanatyam (Indian classical dance).

• Skills – computer programming, cooking, chess, playing an instrument, drawing, gardening, writing, Young Enterprise, biology research, singing, fashion research, reading, and learning a language.

• Expedition – all participants successfully completed expedition training, and

  • Bronze participants - a two-day qualifying expedition through Glen Tanar estate.

  • Silver participants - a three-day practice expedition through Glen Dye estate and a three-day qualifying expedition through Invercauld and Mar Lodge estates.

  • Gold participants - a four-day qualifying expedition from Feshiebridge to Glen Muick with other participants from Aberdeen Open Award Centre.

During the 2023/24 session, 7 pupils achieved a Bronze DofE Award, 4 pupils achieved a Silver DofE Award, and 2 pupils achieved a Gold DofE Award.  Well done!

As part of DofE, participants are encouraged to create a My Saltire account and record their volunteering hours on this platform in order to gain a Saltire Award which recognises their volunteering within the school or their local community.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award participants spent 754 hours volunteering between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.  We are immensely proud of the dedication, effort and achievement of young people making an impact in their community.  The social value of these hours is £3,980.

Thank you to all the DofE Leaders that work with the participants on a weekly basis, to all members of staff that provide activities for the participants to do, and to all members of staff that support on an ad hoc basis.

For further information on The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, please visit www.dofe.org or speak to any member of the DofE St Machar team (Mr Harris, Ms Hughes, Ms McNicholl, Ms Merriweather, and Mr Thomas).

Mr Scott, DofE Co-ordinator