Enrichment is an important part of helping students build confidence, develop new skills, and form positive relationships. Through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and our Toto Twenty challenges, students have opportunities to try new things, work as part of a team, develop independence and take pride in what they achieve, both inside and outside the classroom.

Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme

We are a registered centre for the Duke of Edinburgh Award. A nationally-run award scheme at three levels, covering four sections, the Award develops self-confidence, team building and new skills.

From Year 9, students have two sessions per week on the Duke of Edinburgh Award. During the Autumn and Spring Terms, these are mostly focused on the Skill, Volunteering and Physical section. The Summer Term is mostly focused on the Expedition section.

The sections are:

• Skill – learning or developing a new skill across a wide range of choices. Current options include DJ skills, craft skills and survival skills. We change the options regularly.
• Volunteering – putting something back into the school community or the local community. Current options include charity fundraising and site maintenance. We are hoping to extend options into the local community.
• Physical – learn a new sport or get better at an existing one. Personal fitness often works well for us.
• Expedition – take a journey under their own steam, sleep out and cook their own meals. Training begins for this during the Summer Term.

Lawrence Chapman is the Duke of Edinburgh Award Manager. As well as being a Gold Award holder himself, he has years of experience running the Award at all levels in Special Schools.

The Toto Twenty

The Toto Twenty is a list of things based on the National Trust list of things to do before 11 ½ and the Scout association. In Years 7 and 8, students have three sessions a week, working as a form, to complete the 20 challenges. This develops team work and trusted relationships with fellow students and staff.