Leadership & Service

Very popular with pupils is The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, which is offered to all pupils, starting in the Third Form with the Bronze Award leading up to the Gold Award in the Lower Sixth Form.

At the Bronze Award level, the participants are required to commit to six months’ volunteering, a physical activity and a skill. They are also required to undertake a further three months in one of these activities. In addition, they will plan, train and complete a two day, one night expedition in the nearby Peak District. The Silver Award is offered to the Fourth Form. Participants are also required to commit to six months’ volunteering, physical and skills sections of the award with a three day, two night expedition for which they have planned and trained.

The Fifth Form are given a year off to study for GCSE’s and, if needed, to finish off their Silver Award The prestigious Gold Award begins in the Sixth Form, where the commitment is twelve months and a four day, three night expedition in wild country. This would normally be in Snowdonia or North Yorkshire. Along with the three sections covered by the Bronze and Silver Awards, Gold Award candidates have to complete a five day, four nights residential camp.

A direct entrant for either the Silver or Gold award will need to do an additional six months in one of the sections to complete their award.

Another popular option from Fourth Form upwards is the Combined Cadet Force (CCF). This is part of the national cadet organisation sponsored by the Ministry of Defence, and is very much a part of the wider military family. The CCF aims are to assist personal development through a wide range of activities that are not readily available outside the military context. It also aims to give cadets some insight into, and sympathy with, military matters. There is no specific recruiting objective.

On entry as Fourth Formers, cadets choose either the Army or RAF Sections, however, this choice precludes very little other than organised flying. Weekly training in the first year aims to give cadets a firm military foundation based mainly on weapon training, shooting, field-craft, shelter construction, navigation skills, first aid and drill. Fifth Form cadets specialise in more advanced specialist training, and may choose to participate in the Non Commissioned Officer Training Cadre. On successful completion of the Cadre, cadets are qualified to become NCOs. As much training as possible is conducted by cadet NCOs, under the supervision of Denstone staff, several of whom have previous military experience and hold the King's Commission as CCF Officers. 

We are fortunate in having a wide range of training facilities including both indoor and outdoor ranges. Training is as comprehensive, testing, and fun as possible, but it is necessarily limited by time and space. Training away from school provides the opportunity for more demanding and realistic activity. At the close of the year, both RAF and Army camps are held at varying locations, details of which are published six months in advance.  There are also numerous opportunities for cadets to participate in competitions, flying and gliding (RAF cadets only), and a myriad of courses. These range from leadership and military courses, through adventurous training to overseas trips. Many CCF cadets also participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, being able to use some aspects of their CCF service to satisfy certain award requirements.

Chapel forms a key part of underpinning our Woodard ethos and as such we seek to involve pupils as much as possible. Each week, pupils will attend chapel at least 3 times. In our Friday Eucharist, one house each week will take duties such as writing and leading prayers, reading from the Bible or providing a dramatised version of the gospel. Pupils also form the altar party and a pupil will be chosen as crucifer, gospeller and acolytes. 

We also have a chapel tech team who run all the audio and visual side of chapel.

Chapel is also very well supported by a sacristy team, these pupils ensure chapel is ready for services each week, lighting candles and changing the altar colours. They also lead chapel rehearsals each. 

All pupils are also encouraged to give chapel presentations about charities with whom they have a particular connection, maybe where they are raising funds for a specific cause and in return we make donations to their chosen charity.

Finally, pupils make a huge contribution to chapel through music, whether this be choir or playing musical instruments.