Going for Gold


Abbey Hill School and Performing Arts


Abbey Hill School in Stoke on Trent has been delivering DofE programmes for six years and have over 50 learners doing their DofE at all levels.


The learners at the school have a wide range of moderate learning difficulties as well as other additional needs.


“Learners want clarity, feedback, safe freedom, encouragement, adventure and fun. The DofE offers that for young people and has made a huge difference to the quality of their lives.”


Bill Bridgeman


Bill Bridgeman is the DofE Manager at the school. He says “The DofE benefits the learners and staff enormously. Learners show how they can overcome challenges, gaining confidence and really valuable life skills.


“For some of our learners the expedition is the first time they have ever been away from home and it helps to build their confidence to be independent. Many have a lot of help in everyday life and the challenges of the DofE mean they are encouraged to try to solve their


own practical every day issues themselves.”


The School has started delivering all three levels of the DofE and have found the challenge of each level has inspired learners to want to do Silver and Gold. They bond as teams and sub-teams and learn to work together. The Silver and Gold participants also help those who are new to the DofE at Bronze level.


Bill said “This is the first year we have delivered the Gold level and already it is making a difference to all our learners and inspiring them for the future.”


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