The Duke of Edinburgh Award at Bishop Rawstorne
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) has been working with young people from all backgrounds for over 60 years. Here at Bishop Rawstorne we have successfully delivered the award since 2015 with our aim to build a brighter future for our young people through the DofE programme.
The DofE Journey
There are three levels, bronze, silver and gold and each stage requires a greater length of training and commitment. However, you can tailor this to suit you and complete as many levels as you like. At Bishop Rawstorne we begin your DofE journey by offering the Bronze award and we have links with FE colleges if you’d like to continue your DofE adventure and complete your silver and maybe your gold!
When Can I Apply?
Students can begin to apply for the Duke of Edinburgh Award at the start of Y10 and we currently offer 45 places with the aim to increase this number, year on year.
The Bronze Award
Students achieve an Award by completing a personal programme of activities in four key sections:
- Volunteering Section
- Physical Section
- Skills Section
- Expedition Section
1. Volunteering
Volunteering is simple. It’s about choosing to give time to help people, the community or society, the environment or animals. Your volunteering must not be done for a business but can be undertaken for a charity or not-for-profit organisation (where your volunteering is in support of surplus generating work, for example a charity shop). For your volunteering activity you need to choose to give time to do something useful without getting paid (apart from expenses). You can also volunteer in a team, which might be an easier way to find an activity if you can identify a local need you can help with.
2. 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. However, learning to be a coach in the same sport would be a skills’ section activity, whilst being a volunteer coach counts for the volunteering section.
3. Skills
For your skill’s 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.
4. Expedition
For your expedition section, you will need to plan, train for and complete an unaccompanied, self-reliant expedition with an agreed aim. You must do the correct training for your level and mode of travel, at least one practice expedition, a qualifying expedition (the one that is assessed) and a final presentation in order to complete the section. Your expedition must be completed by your own physical efforts (but you have loads of choices, not just on foot!) with minimal external intervention and without motorised assistance. Your route should also be a continuous journey.
The award runs throughout the year and alongside normal lessons, providing new and exciting opportunities outside of the classroom and school environment. Best of all, you get to choose what you do!
What Parents Should Consider
By completing the DofE programme students develop the skills and attitudes they need to become more rounded, confident adults; qualities that colleges, universities and employers are attracted to. So, as a parent, when you support your child’s pursuit of their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, you’re investing in their future.
You can expect to see your child develop in the following areas as they work through their DofE programme:
- Self-belief and self-confidence
- A sense of identity
- Initiative and a sense of responsibility
- A real awareness of their strengths
- New talents and abilities
- The ability to plan and use time effectively
- Learning from and giving to others in the community
- Forming new friendships
- Problem solving, presentation and communication skills
- Leadership and teamworking skills.
Further Details
For more details on starting the Duke of Edinburgh Award at Bishop Rawstorne please click on the powerpoint presentation below.
You can also visit the official DofE website for further information: https://www.dofe.org/
Duke Of Edinburgh Award
