What is the Duke of Edinburgh's Award?

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) is a real adventure from beginning to end. It doesn't matter who you are or where you’re from. It is the world's leading youth achievement award, it gives millions of 14- to 25-year-olds the opportunity to push themselves to be the very best they can be. The award was founded in 1965 by HRH Prince Philip.

At Dane Court, we offer the Duke Of Edinburgh Silver award programme to all Year 12 students. This is the world’s leading young people’s achievement award. 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.

The program runs from the Autumn term of Year 12 for 12 months, which includes a weekly training session on camp craft, map reading, route planning followed by a 3-day practice and a 3-day qualifying hiking/camping expedition in the summer term of Year 12.​

Students also undertake a combination of 3, 6 and 12 months in a volunteering capacity, an activity to develop their physical fitness and an activity to learn a new skill. For more information please look at https://www.dofe.org/

What is the timescale for the award?

It will take your child at least 6 months for Silver if they have already achieved their Bronze award, or 12 months if they have jumped straight into Silver.

• Volunteering section: 6 months
• Physical and Skills sections: One section for 6 months and the other section for 3 months
• Expedition section: 3 days/2 nights

If they didn’t do Bronze, they must undertake a further 6 months in either the Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills sections.

Please see the D of E Website for more information on activities for Volunteering, Physical and Skills that can be included for each section https://www.dofe.org/do/ideas/

For more information on the Duke of Edinburgh Award in school, please contact Mrs Whelan