Le Murier students gain independence through DofE

Wednesday 13 February 2019

Le Murier students are learning independence, problem-solving and teamwork skills that "cannot be learned in a classroom" through their work on the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme.

33 of the special needs' school's Year 10 and 11 students are currently working towards either a Bronze or Silver award.

The expeditions that students take part in to complete their awards are one of the things that Le Murier funds through the annual Everest Challenge, which is sponsored this year by Investec and will take place from 7-9 March.

Pictured: Le Murier students canoeing in the New Forest last year on their expedition. 

Le Murier's Head of Outdoor Learning Gary Dovey said:

"What the Duke of Edinburgh gives the students is confidence, maturity and many other skills including problem-solving, dealing with things themselves and communication skills.

"On the expedition they have to work together as a team, look after each other and all these other skills that you can’t learn in a school day."

"The bottom line of what we are doing with the Duke of Edinburgh and our residential visits is to make the students as independent as possible. We try to teach them independence as much as we can as it’s not just academically that they need to learn, it’s all those life skills they can learn through experiences like this."

Courtney De La Mare, 15, said her off-island expedition in the New Forest last year encouraged her and her friends to test themselves and learn new things. 

"I enjoyed working together with other [students] instead of other adults. We did a lot of training with map-reading and compass work and looking at all the different places on a map.

"I would rather go to the New Forest rather than do it in Guernsey because then we can be truly lost and have to find our way."

Soraya Chapellier, 14, is currently doing her Bronze award.

"We are going to have a practice expedition in July, then having the real one in September. Right now we are learning how to use maps and compasses."

While some of the skills, voluntary activities and physical activities for Bronze are facilitated through the school, all of the Silver activities are done externally to help further student's organisation and independence.

Pictured Top: Bronze Duke of Edinburgh students on their expedition last year, including Courtney de la Mare, second from right.