What is the Duke of Edinburgh's Award?

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) is a real adventure from beginning to end. It doesn't matter who you are or where you’re from. It is the world's leading youth achievement award, it gives millions of 14- to 25-year-olds the opportunity to push themselves to be the very best they can be. The award was founded in 1965 by HRH Prince Philip.

At Dane Court, we offer the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze, Silver and Gold award programme to all year 9, 10 and 12 students. This is the world’s leading young people’s achievement award. Through a DofE programme, young people have fun, make friends, improve their self-esteem and build confidence. They gain essential skills and attributes for work and life such as resilience, problem-solving, team-working, communication and drive, enhancing CVs and university and job applications. Top employers recognise the work-ready skills Award holders bring to their business.

The Bronze Award

The Bronze award program runs from the summer term of year 8 for 12 months.

It will take your child at least 6 months to complete the Bronze award.

• Volunteering section: 3 months
• Physical section: 3 months
• Skills section: 3 months
• Your child will have to spend an additional 3 months on one of the Volunteering, Physical or Skills section
• Expedition section: 2 days/1 night

Includes an all-day training session on camp craft, map reading, route planning and how to set up tents.

The Silver Award – Year 10s or Year 12s

The Silver award runs from the summer term of year 9 for 12 months. This offering is aimed at year 9s that have completed their Bronze, but is open to other year 9s that would like to start their DofE experience.

We also run the Silver award for year 12s that did not have the opportunity to do silver in year 10. This program will begin in the autumn term of year 12

It will take your child at least 6 months for Silver if they have already achieved their Bronze award, or 12 months if they have jumped straight into Silver.

• Volunteering section: 6 months
• Physical and Skills sections: One section for 6 months and the other section for 3 months
• Expedition section: 3 days/2 nights

If they didn’t do Bronze, they must undertake a further 6 months in either the Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills sections.

Includes an all-day training session on camp craft, map reading, route planning and how to set up tents.

The Gold Award

The Gold award runs from the autumn term of year 12. This offering is aimed at students that have completed their silver award but can be undertaken by students that have not done DofE before.

It will take you at least 12 months/52 weeks for Gold if you’ve already achieved your Silver. If you have not done your Silver, even if you did Bronze, it will take at least 18 months/78 weeks. You can start your Gold after turning 16 years old.

The big difference at Gold is you will also do a Residential section with people you do not know.

• Volunteering: 12 months/52 weeks
• Physical and Skills: One section for 12 months/52 weeks and the other section for 6 months/26 weeks
• Expedition: 4 days/3 nights
• Residential: Do a shared activity in a residential setting away from home for 5 days and 4 nights

If you did not do Silver, you need to do an extra 6 months of either Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills section. This means your longest section will take you 18 months/78 weeks.

For more information please look at https://www.dofe.org/