Who is the Duke of edinburgh Award For?
The Duke of Edinburgh Award is designed to challenge a young person
It is meant to take them out of their comfort zone and offer them experiences they would not otherwise have.
There are 3 levels of the award:
Bronze is available to young people aged 14-24
Silver is available to young people aged 15-24
Gold is available to young people aged 16-24
Is it worthwhile?
As well as enjoyment gained from overcoming challenges, hiking and camping, meeting new people, making new friends, learning new skills and helping others through volunteering, anyone who achieves the award should be proud and list it on their CV.
It is meant to be challenging which is why not everyone who starts the award, achieves it:
Bronze: 127,196 started the award in 2020-21, 27, 575 were awarded = 22% success
Silver: 31,213 started the award in 2020-21, 11,273 were awarded = 36% success
Gold: 20,832 started the award in 2020-21, 6,172 were awarded = 30% success
How is it structured?
The Bronze Award is made up of 4 sections
Volunteering
Physical
Practical skills
Expedition
The amount of time spent on each section (other than Expedition) is up to the participant. Two sections must be done over 3 months and the other section for 6 months.
Each section must have an assessor (not family member) who signs off the section.
For more information CLICK HERE
What does the Bronze Award year looks like at The Burgate School?
Weekly drop-in sessions (3:10-4:00 on Tuesdays starting 9th January 2023 during term time) for:
eDofE support
team building
route planning
general training - camp craft, first aid, map reading
Day hike (Saturday in Spring term, date t.b.c) - introduction to map reading and walking
Practice expedition (Friday-Saturday early Summer term, date t.b.c) - practice map reading and camp craft
Assessed expedition (Friday-Saturday late Summer term, date t.b.c)
Message to parents
Parents, please appreciate that this award is for the student to take ownership of.
They should organise themselves, including finding and managing their volunteering, physical and skill challenges.
It is also critical that students are not contactable (unless absolutely necessary) throughout their expedition. They will be monitored periodically throughout the expedition by the leaders and external assessors and serious issues managed. Any other issues will be dealt with by the young people themselves.
Cost is £175. This is split into two payments: £35 paid by December 31st then the final payment £140 by 1st March
Expedition
The expedition part of the DofE is no longer simply a hike and camp. It should challenge the individuals own ability.
Essentially it is a vehicle to complete a planned activity.
The expedition is assessed both during, and after, when a presentation is given by teams showing how they have completed the planned activity.
Critical skills for completing the expedition
Working as a team
Route planning
Planned activity
Expedition kit
The Burgate School provides to all its participants:
Tent
First aid kit
Rucksack
Camping stove and pans
Emergency bag
Supervising leaders
Minibus backup
Campsite
Volunteering
Helping others is very rewarding. The volunteering section of the DofE allows you to experience life in someone else's shoes and is incredibly enriching.
Practical skills
The DofE wants to push you in lots of different ways. This section pushes you to learn a new skill.
Physical
It is good to have a reasonable level of fitness. This section pushes you progress in a physical activity.