Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme

The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme is all about going the extra mile – gaining new skills, pushing yourself physically, helping others and exploring new territories.

At the same time, you’ll gather friendships, experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.

At St Thomas More we will be offering the Bronze Award to years 9 and 10, and Gold award for Year 12 students. You achieve an award by completing a personal programme of activities:

• 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: planning, training for and completion of an adventurous journey in the UK or abroad. At Gold level, you must do an additional Residential section, which involves working and staying away from home doing a shared activity. We recommend taking part in NCS (http://www.ncsyes.co.uk/) for a rewarding yet affordable option.

Bronze criteria to be met to achieve the award:

• Volunteering, three months,
• Physical, three months,
• Skills, three months,
• Expedition, Plan, train for and complete a two day, one night expedition.

An hour a week must be dedicated to each section of the award for the required time span. At Bronze level, it is expected that students complete their award within 8 months Bronze Award Expedition Training Every Tuesday 3:30 – 4:30pm. These sessions are compulsory in order to ensure that students are trained to the required level to go on expedition.

Bronze programme

Gold criteria to be met to achieve the award: 

• Volunteering: 12 months,
• Physical and Skills: One section for 12 months and the other section for six months,
• Expedition: Plan, train for and complete a four day, three night expedition,
• Residential: Undertake a shared activity in a residential setting away from home for five days and four nights.

Direct entrants must undertake a further 6 months in either the Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills section. A direct entrant is a student who has not completed the bronze and silver award

An hour a week must be dedicated to each section of the award for the required time span.

At Gold level, it is expected that students complete their award within 20 months Gold Award Expedition Training .At this level, students are expected to take more ownership of their award; therefore, planning routes and mapping is completed during students independent study time. Gold training sessions are completed within the enrichment section of the timetable.

To find out more about the DofE Scheme speak to Mr Critchlow...

www.dofe.org  general information regarding each award level

www.edofe.org access to the login page for students to manage their award