Duke of Edinburgh

The Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE) is all about going the extra mile – gaining new skills, pushing yourself physically, helping others and exploring new territories. At the same time, you’ll gather friendships, experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.

It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, as long as you’re 14 to 24, you can choose the activities that motivate you and go on your own personal journey. We know from other participants that the DofE helps you stand out from the crowd when you apply for college, university or jobs.

There are three levels of programme you can do which, when successfully completed, lead to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The main differences between them are the minimum length of time they take to complete, how challenging they are and the minimum age you can start.

DoFE Bronze

The school arranges training (largely on site) in preparation for assessed expeditions. The skills, service and physical recreation sections are arranged by students with assistance from the school's DofE Coordinator.

As well as the above, students will also need to spend an extra three months on one of the Volunteering, Physical or Skills sections - it's your choice which one and, though you can change your mind later, you should decide which section you want to do for longer at the beginning as this will help you to choose your activities and set goals for each section. Examples of the sort of things that students can complete can be found on the D of E Award website.

The Award itself is respected by educational institutions and employers alike, but, as such, it is demanding on students, who need to be committed and self-motivated. It is important that deadlines are met and communications will be given regularly to students via Form Tutors; we realise that this is not always convenient, so copies of all communications are also posted onto the notice board in school (between the medical room and Pastoral Team offices). It is imperative that the notice board is checked regularly, as no excuses will be accepted for missing deadlines.

DoFE Bronze Info book

DoFE Sliver

Students do not need to have completed the Bronze award to achieve the Silver Award and can begin the service, skill and physical sections from September. Details and examples of the sort of things that students complete may be obtained from the Duke of Edinburgh Award website and following the links to the Award Participants area and perusing the Award Sections of the website.

The Silver Award will be assessed over four sections:

Service
Skill
Physical Recreation
Expedition

There will be a practice expedition before you take on the final expedition, which will include walking through monitored checkpoints and completing some in-field assessment, such as reacting to a first-aid scenario, camp craft assessment, navigation etc.

Students find the Silver expedition very rewarding and, although under supervision, they have a degree of independence that allows independent and group decision-making and teamwork to flourish.

The Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award is viewed highly as a very positive addition to any CV/application to join industry or further education. One of the reasons why so many people complete their Duke of Edinburgh Awards is because it is recognised and well-regarded by tutors and employers.

DoFE Gold

The Award

At 16 you can do your Gold DofE award. (No activities can be counted for this before your 16th birthday).
You will spend 12 months on your Volunteering section. For Physical and Skills you must spend 12 months on one and six months on the other
Your expedition will be for four days and three nights and should take place in 'wild country'.
At Gold level you also have to do a Residential section. This involves you staying away from home for five days and four nights doing a shared activity with people you don't know.
If you’ve jumped straight into your Gold DofE programme you will need to do a further six months either volunteering or whichever one of your physical or skills activities you spent the most time on.
For Gold, you will need to do your programme for at least 12 months if you've achieved your Silver Award, or 18 months if you have started at Gold level without doing your Silver - even if you've done Bronze.

Completed your Gold Award?

On completion of your Gold programme you will be invited to a national Gold Award presentation to receive your Gold Award certificate. If you choose to attend the presentation, you will receive your certificate in the presence of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (Prince Philip) or HRH The Earl of Wessex (Prince Edward) at a royal palace.

Gold Activities (sections)

Skills

The Skills section is about developing practical and social skills and personal interests. By choosing to develop a particular skill you are not only developing a new talent but you will also develop your practical and social skills and learn how to set and rise to a challenge.

Suggestions - Podcasting, playing a musical instrument, fine art and web design

Volunteering

This section is all about making a difference to other people's lives. To achieve this section of your Gold award you must volunteer your own time to help others on a regular basis.
Suggestions - Youth work, fundraising for a charity, caring for animals, voluntary work at your local scout group or sports and leisure club

Physical

Through the Physical section you should achieve a greater physical fitness through participation and improvement in physical activity. You can join a team or do it on your own, you could focus on something you are already doing or you could try something completely different.

Suggestions – Consider a team sport e.g. hockey, cricket, football or dance. Or an individual activity e.g. rock climbing, swimming, wheelchair basketball or yoga. Almost any dance, sport or fitness activity can count towards completion of this section.

Residential

To achieve your Gold Award, you need to complete an extra section; the Residential. This involves spending 5 days and 4 nights away from home on a shared activity with people you have never met before. It may be that you want to build on a talent you have developed in another section (physical or skill). You may want to learn something completely new on an intensive course, or do something to help others.

Suggestions - Learning to snowboard or ski, helping at a children’s camp, working with the National Trust or learning French in Paris

Expedition

From sailing along the Norfolk Broads to walking in Canada or horse riding in the Brecon Beacons, it can be as far away or as close to home as you want it to be. At Gold level you can also choose how you want to travel, it doesn’t have to be on foot. You could choose to do your expedition by bike, by canoe, by kayak, by sailing boat or on a horse.

There will need to be between four and seven of you in an expedition team (eight if you’ve chosen to travel by tandem, canoe or bike). With your team, you will plan an aim for your expedition, decide on your location and complete an intensive training course to ensure you are fully prepared for the challenge ahead of you.