Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award aims to provide pupils with an enjoyable, challenging and rewarding programme of personal development, which is of the highest quality and the widest reach. It is a personal challenge available to all, not a competition against others.

There are many benefits to pupils from involvement in the DofE including increased self-confidence, independence, a sense of responsibility, awareness of their potential, an understanding of their strengths and weaknesses and the ability to lead and work as part of a team.

Completion of it is voluntary, as pupils commit some of their own time to undertake activities which they have selected.

Structure of The Award

At each level (Bronze and Gold) there are the following sections:

• Volunteering – to encourage service to individuals and to the community,
• Physical Recreation – to encourage participation and improvement in physical activity.
• Skills – to encourage the development of personal interests, hobbies and social and practical skills.
• Expedition – to encourage a spirit of adventure and discovery,
• There is an additional Residential Project as part of the Gold Award.

Expeditions, organised by the Head of Outdoor Education, are undertaken under the supervision of appropriately qualified staff, to a variety of areas including Suffolk, The Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, Brecon Beacons, Lake District and Snowdonia. At Gold it is also possible to complete the expedition by open canoe, within expeditions on the River Great Ouse and River Wye.

Pupils who complete their Bronze Award receive their Award certificates and badges in assembly presentations. In the case of a Gold Award, there is also the opportunity to go to one of the presentation ceremonies at Buckingham Palace.

Progress and Participation in the award at The Leys

Pupils may start the Bronze DofE Award in the Autumn Term of Year 9, and all take part in the Bronze practice expedition at the end of Year 9. The Bronze assessed expedition takes place towards the end of Year 10, allowing all participants to complete the Bronze Award by the end of Year 10. Gold DofE Award participants may start from their 16^th birthday or the start of Year 12 and can complete the Award before the end of Year 13.