The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award provides pupils with the opportunity to develop confidence in working with others as well as greater individual responsibility. The expedition section encourages an awareness and respect for the environment. In addition, the opportunity to work as a team in a challenging environment fosters an atmosphere of co-operation and again participants gain confidence in themselves and learn to respect and value others. It is also valued by colleges, universities and employers.
The Award consists of three progressive levels – Bronze, Silver and Gold.
In order to achieve an award pupils must successfully complete each of the following sections:
- Volunteering: undertaking service to individuals or the community.
- Physical: improving in an area of sport, dance or fitness activities.
- Skills: developing practical and social skills and personal interests.
- Expedition: training for, planning and completing an adventurous journey.
- At Gold level there is an additional Residential section, which involves staying and working away from home for five days, doing a shared activity.
Ideas for Activities – The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (dofe.org)
Pupils must work on each section for a minimum period of time, and must be monitored and assessed by someone with knowledge of the chosen activities. This cannot be a family member. Each progressive level demands more time and commitment: Bronze 3–6 months; Silver: 6–9 months; Gold: 12–18 months. Pupils are required to commit approximately one hour per week on each of the first three sections.
See Timescales – The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (dofe.org)
The best way for assessors to complete their reports is via this link Assessor’s Report – The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (dofe.org) They will need to know the participants EDofE number as well as level and section being assessed.
The Bronze DofE Award has been running in the school for many years and is open to any S3 pupil. However, the demand for places in our DofE Bronze group is very high and places are limited due to expedition requirements. School staff support and train the Bronze group throughout the session in preparation for their expeditions. The expeditions are led by school staff together with qualified walking leaders linked to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award unit.
The initial cost to cover registration and in-school support and training is £40. In addition to this the Expedition section of the Award will cost £50.
I’m interested what should I do now?
- Plan what you are going to do for Volunteering, Physical and Skill.
- Ask the person in charge of each activity if they are willing to be your supervisor and provide a report when you complete the section.
- Pupils who have organised all three sections will have the best chance of gaining a space in the Bronze group.
- Check the DofE noticeboard for details of the first meeting in August each year.
- Watch out for updates in the weekly bulletin.
Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh
The Silver DofE Award is open to any S4 pupil who has completed their Bronze Award. However, again the demand for places is very high and limited by expedition requirements. The Silver group is supported throughout the session by school staff while the Expedition section is run by qualified Mountain Leaders and volunteers.
The initial cost to cover registration, in-school support and training is £50. There will be an additional cost for the Expedition section of the Award consisting of a Practice and Qualifying expedition. This cost will be dependent on the number of participants and the location of the expeditions.
Pupils who have completed their training and Silver Award through the school will be eligible to continue onto the Gold Award. This group is supported and trained for the expedition section in the same way as for Silver.
The initial cost to cover registration, in-school support and training is £100. There will be an additional cost for the Expedition section of the Award consisting of a Practice and Qualifying expedition which involves an overnight stay in a youth hostel. This cost will be dependent on the number of participants and the location of the expeditions.
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Coordinators
