Headteacher: Alan Gray, M.Sc., F.R.S.A. Deputy Headteacher: Caroline Creaby, BA, M.Ed., Ed.D., F.R.S.A. Deputy Headteacher: Danielle Finlay, BA, M. Ed. Deputy Headteacher: Mark Nicholls, BA (Hons)

The Ridgeway AL4 9NX Letter No: 121/2021 t: 01727 799560 [email protected] www.sandringham.herts.sch.uk

26th April 2021

Dear Parent/Carer,

Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award: Blue Half: 15th – 16th May 2021

Your child is in the BLUE half of the cohort.

Due to the restrictions on overnight trips from Department for Education, it has been necessary to organise an alternative expedition experience, which will be COVID compliant but also meet the revised expedition requirements outlined by #DofEwithadifference. This means that they will be completing day walks on two consecutive days and will be cooking one meal on camping stoves.

The students will be walking in self chosen groups of between 4 and 6. They will be allocated a pre-planned route and each day will be in a different area. In order to minimise contact we ask that you drop off and collect your child each day. Please note that they start day 2 at school and finish day 1 at school. Your child’s expedition group will be given a start time on each day to enable staggering of groups.

On Saturday 15th May, your child will be starting from Redbourn Common (AL3 7DB) and walking back to school. In order to conform to COVID restrictions, please stay in your car when you drop your child off. Your child will be able to give you a precise starting time nearer the expedition day (between 8.00am – 9.30am). In addition to walking, on arrival at school your child will be cooking a meal on camping stoves, cleaning up afterwards and pitching tents. They will receive training on using the school stoves.

On Sunday 16th May, your child will be starting at either school or Jersey Farm (near Tescos) and walking to Gustard Wood, finishing at either the church (AL4 8RU) or near the Cross Keys pub (AL4 8LA). Your child will be able to tell you, nearer the expedition day, a precise starting time (between 8am – 9.30am) and from which location they need to be collected. As we cannot say exactly at what time each group will finish, can we please ask that you do not come to the pick-up point until your child has rung to say they are ready for collection as there is very limited parking. In addition, in order to conform to COVID restrictions, please stay in your car and your child will come to you.

A member of Alban Academies Trust. Registered address: The Ridgeway, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL4 9NX. A charitable company limited by guarantee registered in and Wales (company number: 07523557)

Expedition Training

In addition to the online training, your child is required to attend after-school training on the following dates: Tuesday 27th April: 3.15pm – 4.00pm (SandPit) Thursday 6th May 3.15pm – 4.30pm (school hall) Monday 10th May 3.15pm – 4.15pm (school hall) All expedition training is COMPULSORY. If your child is unable to attend a session they must contact me via email. Failure to complete all training (including the online modules) may result in being withdrawn from the expedition section. Your child has been provided with a revised kit list which has also been sent to you last week. We will provide the camping stoves/fuel at school free of charge. Your child will need lunch and snacks on both days and food for their evening meal on Saturday.

Qualifying expedition The Qualifying expedition is scheduled to take place Sun/Mon 18th/19th July 2021. We are hoping to run this as a full 2 day expedition with an overnight camp subject to the lifting of restrictions from Department for Education. If this is not possible then we will run it in a similar format to the practice expedition. Further details will follow later this term.

Payment and Consent

There is a charge of £10 for this expedition which can be paid via ParentPay. You will be asked to tick a box confirming consent. We will be using the medical and contact information held for your child on Bromcom. If there are any updates, please email these to [email protected]

Please remember that your child will be able to provide more precise timings for the start of each day and location for collection on day 2, nearer the time of the expedition.

Other sections

Your child should be working towards their volunteering/physical/skill sections which they should have organised for themselves. All activities MUST be registered on their eDofE accounts and approved by me for suitability. Can you please encourage your child to complete these sections and upload their assessor reports to eDofE at the earliest opportunity.

Should you have any further questions, please email [email protected]

Yours sincerely,

Alison Cuneen Duke of Edinburgh Co-ordinator

A member of Alban Academies Trust. Registered address: The Ridgeway, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL4 9NX. A charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number: 07523557)