The Duke of Edinburgh's Award

Redruth School are proud to be a licensed centre for delivery of the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze and Silver awards.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a life-changing experience. Through Redruth School’s DofE programme, students can discover new talents, develop essential skills for life and have fun with friends.

By taking on Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE), young people have the chance to build lifelong belief in themselves. Whatever their ability, interest or background, DofE is the chance for any young person to take on their own challenges, follow their own passions, discover new skills and make a difference in their community. What’s more, achieving a DofE Award can help make applications to colleges, universities and employers really stand out.

Any 14-24 year old can do their DofE. Achieving an Award isn’t a competition or about being first. It’s about setting challenges and pushing personal boundaries. DofE has three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold (completed post-16).

When can I start DofE?

· Bronze: the school year you turn 14 (Year 9)

· Silver: the school year you turn 15 (Year 10)

What do I need to do to achieve Bronze or Silver Award?

For Bronze and Silver Award, you need to do activities in four sections. They are:

For inspiring ideas for activities visit https://www.dofe.org/do/your-dofe/

The DofE Leader must approve the choice of activity before starting, and students should be able to prove what they’ve done for each section by uploading evidence such as photographs, videos, notes from assessors etc. The DofE Leader will sign each section off once a student has proven their commitment over the necessary time period.

IMPORTANT: You must be well on the way to fulfilling the time commitments for your Volunteering, Physical, and Skills sections BEFORE undertaking your qualifying expedition.

How much does DofE cost?

There is a fee, of £30.50 for Bronze or Silver which is paid direct to the Duke of Edinburgh charity and provides participants with their ‘Welcome Pack’ and registration, this includes access to the online platform ‘eDofE’ to record your progress towards the Award and a ‘DofE Card’ which gives you a discounted rate of 10-40% in five fantastic retailers in-store and online to purchase expedition kit and more!

What is the commitment?

To achieve an Award young people must show persistence, commitment and personal development, so DofE activities need to fit around school/work commitments, carrying them out in their own time.

Independent Activities (Own time):

Students are required to complete an average of at least one hour a week (or condense this to one 4 hour session per month as a minimum) for each activity in the three sections: Volunteering, Physical and Skills. This means a minimum of 2 hours per week/8 hours per month in their own time. Students could complete 3 activity sections simultaneously if they choose. In total for Bronze Award students complete a minimum of 48 hours activity and for Silver Award a minimum of 60 hours activity (increasing to 84 hours activity if starting directly at Silver Award). Progress in each section will be recorded using eDofE.

Example time commitment:

Expedition Planning and Training (After-School):

There will be regular, fortnightly after-school sessions (1 to 2 hours long) on Wednesdays (Week B) which will include updating students’ progress towards their three activity sections on eDofE, completing training and practical activities to develop hard and soft skills, setting Team Goals and planning the expedition. Students must have satisfactorily completed the 8 competencies of the expedition training framework below before being allowed on expedition.

Expedition Training Framework:

1. First Aid and Emergency Procedures

2. An Awareness of Risk and Health and Safety Issues (including Fitness)

3. Navigation, Route Planning and Compass Skills

4. Accommodation, Equipment, and Hygiene

5. Food and Cooking

6. Countryside Safety Codes

7. Observation Recording and Presentations

8. Team Building

 

The Expedition

It is important to remember that the expedition may be for many students, the most exciting element of the DofE Award, but it only forms one part of the Award. You must be well on the way to fulfilling the time commitments for your Volunteering, Physical, and Skills sections BEFORE undertaking your qualifying expedition.

Students will work in teams with DofE leaders to plan and complete a practice expedition prior to planning and completing their qualifying expedition.

Much of the equipment for the expedition including tents, rucksacks and trangias (camping stoves) will be loaned to students, and there will be kit lists provided and a kit check and briefing prior to any expedition.

After the expedition students complete a reflection on themselves, their team and the expedition.

Getting your Award

Bronze and Silver Awards are issued through Redruth School as a licensed centre.

Where do I get more information? DofE website: https://www.dofe.org/do/your-dofe/

Who do I contact?

If you have any questions about the Duke of Edinburgh Award please contact any member of staff below on our dedicated DofE email address: dofe@redruth.cornwall.sch.uk

Mrs Clemence (DofE Manager)

Mr Annis (DofE Co-ordinator)

Mrs King (Assistant Headteacher, DofE Line Manager)

Miss Thomas (DofE Admin)