The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is a challenge open to all young people aged between 14 and 25 years old. There are three levels of the award, Bronze Silver and Gold. SJL is delighted to offer the Bronze Award to students in Year 10.
For Bronze there are four sections to complete. The four sections they must complete are Volunteering, Physical, Skill and Expedition.
The benefits of achieving The Duke of Edinburgh's Award at any level are endless. It’s difficult to list them all here… but you should definitely know how much fun you’ll have and how pushing yourself to do new things will help you to grow in confidence and develop useful skills. Meeting new people will inspire you and lead to lasting friendships. The DofE Award can also give you the edge when you apply for college, university or a job.
Put simply, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is about helping you along the path to a productive and prosperous future. As many of our participants say, it’s life-changing.
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is so much more than a 'pat on the back' for completing a programme of activities. It is a recognition of a young person’s successful journey of self-discovery and development, and valued by employers and universities alike for the qualities with which it imbues young people.
Its balanced programme develops the whole person - mind, body and soul, in an environment of social interaction and team working.
At SJL we are pleased to be offering all students the opportunity to start their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
The applications process is all done electronically now via ParentPay.
Bronze Award
Students in Year 10 are eligible to take part in The Duke of Edinburgh's Bronze Award. Students will have the opportunity to attend an assembly for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, followed by an information evening for parents. Students will then be invited to register for their award, which will start in September of Year 10. Registration is completed online via ParentPay.
Bronze timescales:
- Volunteering section: 3 months
- Physical section: 3 months
- Skills section: 3 months
Expedition section: lunchtime/after school training sessions, a two day 1 night training expedition and a 2 day 1 night Qualifying expedition.
Students also have to do 3 more months in one of the Volunteering, Physical or Skills sections.
Each section must be completed over the time scale and must show a regular commitment. e.g. 1 hour per week for 3 or 6 months
Assessors
The students will need to find an assessor for each of their three sections - this person must have an interest or expertise in the section and NOT be a family member. The students will meet with their assessor BEFORE they start their section to discuss their aims for the 3 or 6 months. The assessor will then monitor progress and write a report at the end of the time. The report will need to be submitted to eDofE.org/assessor, or photographed and uploaded to the participants eDofE account. Full details and training will be given in lunchtime sessions / assemblies throughout the academic year.
We ask that students make a commitment to complete the three sections BEFORE Easter in the academic year as this ensures that all students who attend the expedition will go onto complete their award.
If a student is unable to attend the school expedition, there are many other opportunities on offer; full details can be found on the DofE web site. Here you will find a list of Approved Activity Providers (AAPs) who do “open expeditions”. Any student can apply to do these expeditions in their own time and still complete their award with school.
The DofE coordinator is Mr Goodman. Their email address is: dofe@sjl.herts.sch.uk
FAQs
Can I do my volunteer (or any other) section as 2 6-hour stints rather than an hour a week?
No. It must be an hour minimum a week for 3 (or 6) months. This is to show ongoing commitment and resilience.
What do I do if my group gets lost during the hike?
If you get lost, you need to work with your group to locate yourselves to get back on track. You will not fail your expedition if you get lost, unless you get to a point where you need someone to come and help you. Techniques for what to do if you get lost will be covered in your training sessions. Ultimately we will have your health and safety as number one priority.
Can I bring my mobile/tablet on expedition?
No. We give you a basic phone to carry in case of emergency.
Quoted from previous participant of the DofE:
“I was worried I’d be bored at camp without my mobile for entertainment. I didn’t want to miss out on anything that was going on social media, but actually while I was there I didn’t think about it. It was really nice to speak to other students face to face rather than through technology, including people that I’d never really spoken to before.”
Will I be able to contact my child during the expedition to see if they’re alright?
No contact with home is allowed on expedition. Staff will have all contact information for parents and will make contact where necessary. No news is good news! Follow us on twitter @SJLDofE for updates during the expeditions!
I follow a strict diet / have extra needs / have a medical condition or disability. Can I do the expedition and do the same rules still apply?
The DofE is an Award that can be achieved by anybody that is willing to make the effort and commitment to it. If you have any concerns, please come and speak to me so we can work together to make your Award successful.
Can I be completing my sections at the same time as each other, or do I have to do one after the other?
You are welcome (actually, encouraged!) to be completing the sections the best way to suit you and your time management. Sections can be completed at the same time, For example, you can do your music lesson hour a week on a Tuesday, and football on a Thursday.
