ON DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS

BET PROUDLY HOSTED THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S (DOFE) PRESTIGIOUS ANNUAL

Award programme. BET has raised over £15,000 in grants this academic year to directly support some of its most disadvantaged and vulnerable students to participate in the programme.

Liz Briggs, Duke of Edinburgh Manager, Bohunt Education Trust, said:

“The Insights event has provided an incredible chance for us to show how the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award positively stretches and challenges our students, whilst providing them with valuable opportunities to experience new things.”

Neil Strowger, Chief Executive Officer, Bohunt Education Trust said:

“The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award plays an immensely important role in the innovative and pioneering approach to outdoor education that we foster as a Trust. It has been fantastic to join with those across the sector to celebrate all the positive opportunities that the DofE Award brings and to mark our ongoing achievements in successfully delivering the programme to our students as part of our well-known outdoor education offer.”

The Trust and D of E welcomed guests from around the South East region to hear from students and staff about their transformational D of E experiences and the positive impact the award has had. BET’s pioneering approach to education led to it being selected to host the high-profile event to reflect its sector leading approach to outdoor education and learning. BET’s vision is to ensure there be no barrier to outdoor education and as such, the Trust has committed to enabling the most disadvantaged and vulnerable students to participate in D of E.

The event saw key players across the education sector, joined by Deputy Lieutenant Tom Floyd and Karen Pickering, MBE, recognising and celebrating the impact of the long-standing DofE Award. The afternoon saw students and co-ordinators from across BET schools presenting and sharing stories and best practice, with opportunities to talk to D of E supporters and benefactors form across the county.

This academic year has seen one of the largest ever uptakes of the programme across BET, with over 800 students participating in the award. 640 students successfully completed the Bronze Award, with a record 150 achieving the Silver Award and 20 students attaining the highly esteemed Gold Award.

As part of BET’s overarching commitment to ensure all pupils, regardless of background or starting point in life, can fulfil their potential, the Trust ensures that all pupils can access the DofE

Pete Singleton, South East Regional Director, Duke of Edinburgh said:

“We are delighted that DofE plays such a large part of Bohunt’s extra-curricular and outdoor education offer. BET’s commitment to DofE and to their fully inclusive approach –enabling any young person to be able to do DofE if they are up to the challenge, is a fantastic example of what can be achieved with the right motivation and support.”