Curriculum
Duke of Edinburgh
“The world’s leading youth achievement award. Transforming the lives of millions of young people across the globe.” HRH King Charles III
Qualifications:
- Duke of Edinburgh Certificate of Achievement
- Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award
A life-changing experience. A fun time with friends. An opportunity 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 is many things to many people, supporting generations to successfully navigate adult life.
14-24 year-olds can do a DofE programme at one of three progressive levels which, when successfully completed, leads to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
There are four sections to complete at Bronze and Silver level and five at Gold. They involve helping the community/environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills, planning, training for and completing an expedition and, for Gold only, working with a team on a residential activity.
Any young person can do their DofE – regardless of ability, gender, background or location. Achieving an Award isn’t a competition or about being first. It’s all about setting personal challenges and pushing personal boundaries.
Through a DofE programme young people have fun, make 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, enhancing CVs and university and job applications. Top employers recognise the work-ready skills Award holders bring to their business.
Throughout the year students will work on the four areas of their DofE Award. These are Physical, Skills, Volunteering and Expedition.
Physical – For the physical activity students need to choose any sport, dance or fitness activity – in short, anything that requires a sustained level of energy and physical activity. For example, playing a sport regularly and showing personal improvement would count. Students will have the opportunity to complete this section through their PE lessons.
Skills – For the skills activity students need to choose an activity that will allow them to prove they have broadened their understanding and increased their expertise in the chosen skill. This could be completed through Personal Finance or Food Tech Lessons.
Volunteering – Volunteering is simple. It’s about choosing to give time to help people, the community or society, the environment or animals. Volunteering must not be done for a business but can be undertaken for a charity or not-for-profit organisation. For their volunteering activity students need to choose to give time to do something useful without getting paid (apart from expenses). This can also be completed as part of a team. Students will have the opportunity to complete this section within the school day.
Expedition – For the Expedition section, students will need to plan, train for and complete an unaccompanied, self-reliant expedition with an agreed aim. They must do the correct training for the level which will be delivered within curriculum time and will include; First aid procedures, health and safety/risk issues, navigation and route planning, preparatory map skills, practical map skills, compass skills, campcraft, equipment and hygiene, countryside codes, observation recording and team building.
The expedition must be completed by the students’ own physical efforts with minimal external intervention and without motorised assistance. The route should also be a continuous journey.
