Pate's Outdoor Adventure
The call to adventure is strong at Pate’s and our tradition for exceptional outdoor pursuits is long, progressive and distinguished.
With our Climbing Club benefiting from our inhouse indoor climbing wall, our dedicated Pate’s Adventure team and expert facilitators, and students (from Years 9-13) eligible to join Pate’s Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme, there is always plenty on offer for hardy spirits, often inspiring new passions and even vocational pathways.
Duke of Edinburgh's Award
The Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award Scheme is an internationally recognised Personal Development Programme which encompasses a life-changing experience; an opportunity to have fun with friends; a chance to discover new interests and talents; a tool to develop essential skills for life and work; a recognised mark of achievement, respected by employers.
The DofE Award is many things to many people, supporting generations to successfully navigate life. Any young person can do their DofE Award. Achieving an Award isn’t a competition or about being first, it’s all about setting personal challenges and pushing personal boundaries.
At Pate's, we collaborate with the highly-regarded professionals at OceanRock Adventure to support the facilitation of the Awards.
All students complete their Bronze Award during Year 9. In Year 12, a very high number (often up to 50) complete their Gold Award.
Through their DofE programme, students find another dimension in which to have fun, make new friends, improve their self esteem and build confidence. They gain essential skills and attributes for work and life such as resilience, problem-solving, team-working, communication and drive, as well as the bonus of enhancing their CV and university and job applications.
CCF
There are CCF contingents in over 500 secondary schools all over the UK, offering young people a broad range of challenging, exciting, adventurous and educational activities.
Our aim is to enable the development of personal responsibility, leadership and self-discipline.
Pate’s CCF is an educational partnership between the school and the Ministry of Defence, we have more than 200 students participating in our Army or Royal Air Force sections.
Want to learn to live in the field, to shoot, complete an obstacle course, experience adventurous training and expeditions, learn to glide and experience flying, and alongside all of that, make an incredible group of friends?
The CCF offers life changing experiences that few other co-curricular activities can match. Joining the CCF provides so many opportunities to challenge yourself, develop your skills and work as part of a team.
The CCF at Pate's provides me with unrivalled opportunities to develop my leadership skills, the responsibility is real and I am exceptionally proud of the section I lead. I have learnt so many 'life skills' along the way.
(Year 13 student)
