Fuelling growth

Headteacher Tim Litchfield, of Knights Templar, a state school in North Hertfordshire, is very proud and pleased to be able to support the school’s extensive range of Duke of Edinburgh’s Award activities. Each year around 130 Year 9 students start Bronze programmes and the completion rate right through to Gold is very high.

Knights Templar is one of nine Licensed Organisations in Hertfordshire and the only state school. Tim sees the benefits of the DofE throughout his school: young people challenging themselves; students taking leadership responsibilities; a great work ethic; respectful and courteous students. All of these characteristics raise standards and aspirations. The DofE sits as part of the school’s extensive careers, information, and advice and guidance package. The fundamental aims and guiding principles of the DofE sit beautifully within Knights Templar school’s motto “courage and courtesy”, which was crafted over 40 years ago.

Tim says,“With reducing budgets and pressures on curriculum time, I believe that funding the DofE in my school has massive impact. I employ a DofE Leader and an administrator to run the DofE in the school. We like to be adventurous with our expedition venues with all groups at all levels travelling significant distances from our base just north of London to various National Parks as far away as the Lake District.

“At a recent DofE presentation evening, Peter Westgarth, Chief Executive of the DofE, spoke about the importance of school leadership and the impact on outcomes for students. Like all schools, we are continually trying to increase the rate of progress of all of our students and I believe passionately that DofE is a significant factor in the success of our school.”