Duke Of Edinburgh Award
The aim of the Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award Scheme is to empower young people; to support them as they learn new skills, overcome obstacles, and build confidence and resilience. Students will choose their own activities to complete the four sections of a DofE award: Volunteering, Physical, Skill, and the Expedition. DofE can build on learning from timetabled lessons, but is for students to complete in their own time, e.g. at clubs or at home.
The Bronze DofE Award is offered to our Year 9 students and the Silver DofE Award to our Year 10 students. Both levels have the four sections outlined below. Click the sections to find out more information.
Through DofE Awards, we work to bring the best out of young people so that they become more motivated, disciplined and balanced; qualities that employers, colleges and universities truly value.
Volunteering
Volunteering is simple. It’s about choosing to give time to help people, the community or society, the environment or animals. You need to choose to give time to do something useful without getting paid (apart from expenses) and you cannot volunteer for family or businesses.
For students who are struggling to find their volunteering activity, we have a number of opportunities at school (list updated 10th Feb 2023):
- Library Assistant - Mrs Selwyn
- Eco Club - Miss Turvey & Miss Jones - Tue Lunch
- Gardening Club - Fri after school
- Any academy or society can be a volunteering opportunity - speak to the relevant teacher about helping set up or delivering sessions.
There is also
- the list of activity ideas that the Duke of Edinburgh provide (image below),
- the DofE website which also has other ideas and charities
- the DofE opportunity finder which has a list of online volunteering opportunities.
Physical
For your physical activity you 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.
For students who are struggling to find their physical activity, we have a number of opportunities at school (list updated 10th Feb 2023):
- Y7-9 Girls rugby - Tue After-school
- Y9-10 Boys rugby - Thu After-school
- Y7-Y9 Girls cricket (Gloucesterhire coach) - Tue After-school
- Table Tennis - Tue After-school
- Y7-10 Girls football - Wed After-school
Y7-10 Birls football - Wed After-school - Golf - Wed After-school
- Boccia - Mr Lambert - Wed Lunch time
- Y9-10 Girls netball - Mrs Baker - Thu After-school
There is also the list of activity ideas that the Duke of Edinburgh provide:
Skill
For your skill activity you need to choose an activity that will allow you to prove you have broadened your understanding and increased your expertise in your chosen skill. It should not be a physical activity, for example, horse riding, as this counts towards your Physical section, however, you could choose to learn about caring for horses.
For students who are struggling to find their skill activity, we have a number of opportunities at school (list updated 10th Feb 2023):
- Music Practise - Mr Brinson
- Senior Rock Band - Mr Brinson
- Band Skills - Mr Hutton
- School Production Rehearsals - Mr Williamson
- Spanish/French conversation club - Mon Lunch time
- Chess - Mrs Walters - Mon Lunchtime Room 28
- Chess Tournament - Mrs Walters - Thu after-school Room 28
- Y9 Book Club - Mrs Langton - Mon Lunch - week A
- Acapella - Miss Sladen and Mr Hutton - Tue after-school
- Crochet Society - Miss Pearce - Wed Lunch
- STEM - Mrs Harrison, Mrs Williams - Wed after-school. Week A
- Poetry by Heart - Miss Anderson
- Lego Club - Miss Pearce - Fri after-school
- Gardening Club - Fri after school
There is also the list of activity ideas that the Duke of Edinburgh provide:
Expedition
More info to follow.
