The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has been described as a “a life-changing experience”. It is a personal programme of activities, set up in 1956 (1958 for girls) to “inspire, guide and support young people in their self-development and recognise their achievements.” It is an internationally recognised award which is highly respected by employers and universities alike. It provides the tools to develop essential skills for future life and work whilst giving students an opportunity to make new friends and experience an exhilarating adventure.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award consists of three levels: Bronze open to year 9’s, Silver open to year 10’s and Gold open to year 12 and 13. It will take between six and eighteen months to complete, depending on the level and you have until your 25th birthday to complete the award. Each level is divided into four sections (five if you are doing Gold): volunteering, skill, physical recreation and the expedition itself.
Atlantic Academy D of E Information Pack
To enrol your son/ daughter, please complete ‘The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Participant Enrolment Form’ below by Friday 20th November 2020.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Participant enrolment form
An option to pay via Parent Pay will be added to your son/ daughters account. Please make payment via Parent Pay by Friday 27th November 2020. If you do not have access to Parent Pay, please contact the finance office and request a PayPoint letter and instructions for use.
Bronze
Bronze participant enrolment letter
Silver
Silver participant enrolment letter
Gold
Volunteering
Volunteering is simple. It’s about choosing to give time to something useful, without getting paid. Volunteering could fall into one of the following categories:
- Helping people
- Community action and raising awareness
- Coaching, teaching and leadership
- Working with the environment or animals
- Helping a charity or community organisation
Programme Ideas – Volunteering
Programme Ideas – Volunteering (for under 16’s)
Physical
In short, physical recreation is anything that requires a sustained level of physical energy and involves doing an activity. This could fall into one of the following categories:
- Team sports
- Individual sports
- Water sports
- Racquet sports
- Dance
- Fitness
- Extreme sports
- Martial arts
Skill
A skill is something that you will need to spend time on to develop. Ultimately at the end of your timescale, you must be able to prove that you have broadened your understanding and increased your expertise in the chosen skill. Some examples include:
- Creative arts
- Performance arts
- Science and technology
- Care of animals
- Music
- Life skills
- Learning and collecting
- Media and communication
- Natural world
- Games and sports
Expedition
The aim of the expedition section is to inspire young people to develop their initiative and a sense of adventure and discovery, by planning, training for and completing an adventurous journey as part of a team.
Conditions of The Expedition Section
Completing your DofE Award- participant section
Interested in completing your Duke of Edinburgh Award?
Introduction to the award letter
The Duke of Edinburgh Award @ Atlantic Academy
Costs
The cost of enrolment is £22 for Bronze and Silver participant places and £29 for Gold. Please note payment only covers the cost of enrolment to The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and a separate payment will be required to cover the cost of the expedition in 2021.
EDofE
EDofE is the online platform which DofE use to track student participation. Once payment and an enrolment form are submitted you will be provided with an EDofE login. Please use the link and guide below to help you navigate the platform.
EDofE Guide Video
https://www.edofe.org/Home/Index
DofE User Guide for Participants
Choosing an assessor
For each section that you complete you will need an assessor. This is someone who can verify and support you during your time doing that particular activity. An assessor should fulfil the following criteria:
- NOT a family member
- An expert in that given area e.g. a coach of that sport
- Willing to monitor/ support the student throughout their activities and help them achieve their goals/ objectives.
- Willing to submit an assessor’s report (see below) at the end of the designated time
Each week you should upload some evidence of what you have been doing. This can be in the form of a photo, video (limited capacity), text or other e.g. PDF file.
Alternatively, you can manually fill in an activity log sheet each week which can be uploaded at the end of your timescale.
For electronic copies please see the DofE website- https://www.dofe.org/do/activitylogs/
Assessors reports
Every week your assessor should touch base with you to ensure that you are on task and achieving or working towards your goals. At the end of the designated time (3, 6, 12 or 18 months) the assessor should then complete an assessor’s report. This can be done on paper or electronically by logging on to https://edofe.org/Assessor
To pass the section the report must include:
- The student’s name
- The activity
- The assessor’s name and position i.e. what makes you able to comment on the student’s work?
- Dates that they have attended i.e. has your son/ daughter actually completed 6 months?
- A comment on their attitude/ dedication/ motivation/ progress
- The assessor’s signature or if electronic they will need to provide an email address
How to Complete an Assessor’s Report
The ‘app’
DofE have recently launched an app. This has a very user-friendly interface and make uploading evidence very simple.
The DofE Award and COVID- 19
* The COVID-19 outbreak won’t stop you doing your DofE – far from it.
* You get to choose and change your own activities, so you can pick ones that are easy to do safely under social distancing guidelines or from home.
* Visit DofE.org/DofEWithADifference for loads of activity ideas and information.
* You can complete three of the four sections independently and receive ‘The Certificate of Achievement’
* During and in the aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak, participants who complete their Skills, Volunteering and Physical sections will receive a special DofE Certificate of Achievement.
* This is a formal recognition, by the DofE, of the effort, skill and commitment you’ve shown at this extraordinary time.
* The Certificate can act as a talking point on your CV or in your personal statement and help you stand out.
