Please keep dates free if you wish to do expeditions with your year group.
If you cannot do an expedition, please contact staff as soon as possible.
Please remember, to pass DofE expeditions RGS students need to …
1.Attend planning meets! Complete plans by deadlines and pass two expeditions i.e. training and qualifying.
2.Complete the whole expedition! Late drop offs or early pick ups are not allowed.
3.Complete their previous awards! RGS DofE students must earn their Bronze Award to continue with Silver and must pass Silver to continue with Gold.
4.Carry their own equipment! Participants must be fit enough to carry their own kit to operate independently and safely. The transport of kit between camps is not provided for injured or ill participants. Participants who are injured or ill should do the expedition when they have recovered and are sufficiently fit and well to carry the essential kit. This rule is for the safety of everyone involved and is one of our conditions for starting a safe expedition. If participants are unable to carry their own kit due to illness or injury then please contact staff as soon as possible to discuss options.
If you have any questions about dates, please contact htc@reigategrammar.org
Expedition schedule is similar each year
GOLD: Gold practice is at the end of the Summer term/start of summer holidays in early July. Gold qualifying is in Mid-August, between A Level and GCSE results days. GOLD expeditions are operated by our partners at Expeditions Wales. RGS staff are fully involved with organising, supervising and looking after groups. Travel to and from expeditions is usually by coach and this is organised by DofE and included in the cost.
SILVER: practice expeditions in the Surrey Hills are after 4th Year internal exams in June; 5th year qualifying expeditions on the South Downs are through first weekend of October half term. Parents are responsible for drop offs and pick ups. Travel by train is recommended for the qualifying expedition.
BRONZE: practice expedition is through May bank holiday weekends; the Bronze qualifying expedition is in October activities day, usually the weekend before half term. All Bronze expeditions leave from RGS and end locally.
RGS students must finish Bronze to continue with Silver and must finish Silver to continue with Gold.
2023
Thursday 5 January: Gold training day (all day)
New Bronze parents information evening – 31 Jan 6-7pm
Bronze practice Sunday 30 April – Monday 1 May
Bronze mop-up Saturday 27 May – Sun 28 May
Silver practice Wednesday 28 June – Friday 30 June
Gold training Sunday 2 July – Thursday 6 July
Gold qualifying Friday 11 Aug – Weds 16 Aug / Thurs 10 Aug – Tues 15th Aug (split hike)
Bronze qualifying Friday 6 October – Saturday 7 October
Silver qualifying Saturday 21 Oct – Monday 23 Oct
2024
Thursday 4 January: gold training day (provisonal)
New Bronze parents information evening – tbc
Bronze practice Sunday 5th May – Monday 6th May (tbc)
Bronze mop-up Saturday 25 May – Sun 26 May (tbc)
Silver practice Wednesday 26 June – Friday 28 June (tbc)
Gold training Sunday 30 June – Thursday 4 July (tbc)
Gold qualifying Friday 10 Aug – Weds 15 Aug (tbc)
Bronze qualifying Friday 6 October – Saturday 7 October (provisional)
Silver qualifying Saturday 21 Oct – Monday 23 Oct (provisional)
Dates are subject to change and expeditions may have to go later, return earlier or alter or abandon trips entirely (e.g. Covid-19, flooding, storms etc…). If dates change, we will let everyone know as soon as possible. Please contact me for the latest updates on future hike dates before booking family holidays so you can avoid clashes. Thank you htc@reigategrammar.org
Reigate Grammar School DofE 