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Original poster

D of E failure

37 replies

Jopeg · 17/07/2010 18:19

DD and her group recently failed the expedition section of D of E despite completing the course and not getting lost. They were told "they knew why" they had failed, but they claim not to. Lack of teamwork was mentioned, but they got on fine. Anyone experienced failure or any experience with this?

OP posts:
Original poster
Jopeg · 17/07/2010 21:28

Silver

They didn't split up or anything like that, they were the 'strongest walkers and best navigators' according to the leader. They were made to walk further one day because they had not been out long enough (although they had covered the mileage) I think they were pretty dispirited by this and when asked how they were at a check point wrote s**t and then crossed it out, they got in trouble for that but let off (it was the first day). They lost one of their route cards and were told that was 'littering' I expect they were noisy as well. They went through all the check points.

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mumeeee · 17/07/2010 21:22

DD3 recently did her Bronze D of E they were actually allowes to buy a cold drink and ice cream at a shop they past on thier walk, It was an extreamly hot day. They did have thier rucsack with all thier supplies including water,

SleepingLion · 17/07/2010 21:15

At our school, we fail groups who break the rules in some way - alcohol/smoking/visiting tents of opposite sex - but also those who are perceived not to have acted in the 'spirit' of DofE, and poor team work might come under this umbrella. Did the group split up at any point? did one member of the group walk a long way ahead? were struggling members of the group supported?

Lack of awareness of the country code might also lead to failure - leaving gates open, dropping litter, generally being careless of the surroundings. But we would always explain to a group why they had failed - the Gold groups we took to Snowdonia recently were debriefed at the end of the expedition by their assessors.

prh47bridge · 17/07/2010 21:04

It is also a failure if they buy supplies en route beyond that permitted by the rules, accept a lift, use public transport, split up or fail to go through one or more of the check points agreed with the leaders. That's just a few of the reasons - there are plenty more.

What are the things they did that didn't please?

rainbowfizz · 17/07/2010 20:59

Did they leave rubbish at the campsite?

GypsyMoth · 17/07/2010 20:41

was it bronze jo?

Original poster
Jopeg · 17/07/2010 20:40

We are supposed to be getting a full report but all the parents have complained, DD has mentioned a couple of things that they did that didn't please but nothing in itself that would cause them to fail. A couple of the parents met the leaders when they picked them up and were told it would be "in the report".

I would have thought it would have been out and out failure to reach the end or being terribly late back, alcohol, smoking, smuggling boys in or cheating, none of which appears to be the case.

OP posts:
muddleduck · 17/07/2010 19:58

I've only know groups to fail if they either didn't complete the distance or were caught cheating.

my instinct is that your DD know more than she is letting on, but you can easily call her bluff by saying you will speak to the teacher on her behalf.

rainbowfizz · 17/07/2010 18:54

when i was at (all girls) school one group (not mine I hasten to add ) failed because in the evening they went to visit a boys tent!

whiteflame · 17/07/2010 18:32

Well, i would think that they can insist on being told why they failed - "you know why" wouldn't hold up if you/they wanted to push it. Surely there must be some kind of formal report to the candidates/teachers?

And I guess you'll find out whether they actually know why they failed, when you tell them your intention to pursue it

GypsyMoth · 17/07/2010 18:27

did someone use a mobile? or use money?

our teachers mentioned one group failed for buying an ice cream from a van,the examiner was watching!!

GypsyMoth · 17/07/2010 18:26

my DD failed the practice,but last weekend passed the real thing despite getting ost...they righted themselves and got back under their own steam 40 mins late i think,but they did it

they must have some clue? DD failed the first one as her team memebers decided to sit down and not move til the teachers came to get them....onlydd and her friend decided to complete the walk alone....so would fail for leaving group behind (girly girls who couldnt hack it)dd moved groups after that as they dropped out anyway.