The aim of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) is to provide young people with an enjoyable, challenging and rewarding programme of personal development, which is of the highest quality and widest reach. Young people doing their DofE programme complete four different types of activity. The first three must be carried out in their spare time and not during school hours, and the fourth has to be completed at a time determined by the school. The four are:

• Volunteering:
  Undertake service to individuals or the community. This develops compassion, commitment and the confidence to make a difference.
   
• Physical:
  Improve in an area of sport, dance or fitness activities. This develops fitness, enjoyment and, depending on the activity, teamwork.
   
• Skills:
  Develop practical and social skills and personal interests. This helps young people to realise their unique potential and gain greater self-esteem.
   
• Expedition:
  Plan, train for, and complete an adventurous journey in the UK or abroad. This develops teamwork and leadership, and challenges young people to push themselves beyond their expectations.
   

The Award Scheme is a fantastic opportunity for youngsters to further their skills of independence and leadership and is highly regarded by higher education institutions and employers. The Award Scheme requires persistence and commitment, and it is therefore the responsibility of the participant to find and arrange the activities that they will undertake for their volunteering, physical and skills sections. The school can offer advice but cannot find or organise the activities. Participants should also ideally choose something new for them; there is an extensive list of activities that are acceptable on the DofE website:

Parents or carers must give their permission for their child to participate in visits.

The Parental Consent Form covers visits in the following three categories:

1. Specific, one-off visits e.g. museum visits, field trips
2. Regular, routine off-site activities e.g. use of off-site facilities for PE
3. Off-site sporting fixtures

These trips and activities may take place on or outside the school day. The school will send you information about each trip in Category 1 before it takes place, with a brief reply slip to acknowledge receipt. You can, if you wish, tell the school that you do not want your child to take part in any particular school trip or activity.

The Parental Consent Form can be downloaded by clicking on the appropriate link below:

The PC/07 form is required for all overseas, adventurous or residential activities.

Useful Information

Sporting Event Student code of conduct

• Students should be proud to be selected to represent Northgate High School in a sporting event.
• Students must demonstrate excellent teamwork, determination and respect at all times when representing Northgate High School.
• When committing to represent Northgate High School in a sporting event, students should ensure they comply fully with the following key principles of the student code of conduct.

Please click on the link below for our Sporting Event Student code of conduct:

Sporting Event Student code of conduct

• Students should be proud to be selected to represent Northgate High School in a sporting event.
• Students must demonstrate excellent teamwork, determination and respect at all times when representing Northgate High School.
• When committing to represent Northgate High School in a sporting event, students should ensure they comply fully with the following key principles of the student code of conduct.

Please click on the link below for our Sporting Event Student code of conduct: