Duke of Edinburgh

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a fantastic vessel for developing many of the soft skills that

employers are looking for. Through completing the DofE award our pupils really development their

confidence, problem solving skills, independence, communication and resilience; all skills that will be

massively helpful to them both inside and outside of the classroom, now and in the future.

The award itself consists of 4 sections:

Physical: Pupils will have to commit to participating in a sport (or physical activity) for a minimum of

3 months (Examples: Football, Netball, Circuit Training, Cycling)

Skill: Pupils will have to commit to learning a new skill for a minimum of 3 months (Examples:

Learning a new language, painting, cookery, baking, sports journalism, snooker).

Volunteering: Pupils will have to volunteering at least an hour per week to a charity or other non-

profit making organisation for a minimum of 3 months. (Examples: Prefecting in school, School

Librarian, Volunteering at Scouts, Cubs, Brownies, Rainbows, Helping at KS3 Sports Clubs)

Expedition: Pupils receive at least 3 hours of ‘Pre-Expedition Training’ when they learn about

cooking, campcraft, map reading, countryside code, etc. Pupils take part in a 2 day (1 night camping)

practice expedition during which they will walk, as a group of 6, for approximately 6hrs per day, cook

for themselves, and camp overnight. The final part of the ‘Expedition’ section is the ‘Qualifying

Expedition’ during which the students put everything they have learned into practice to

independently (as a group) navigate their way around the routes.

*The Silver Award follows a similar format but the length of time completing the Physical, Skill and

Volunteering sections is slightly longer, and the Expedition is 3 days (2 nights).

Possibly even more valuable than the skills developed, is the moments, friendships, camaraderie,

laughs (sometimes tears!) and lifelong memories made that make the DofE such a worthwhile award

to get involved with.