Duke of Edinburgh
The Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE) continues to grow throughout all of our secondary schools. In 2019, 51 students from Year 9 were working towards the bronze award, whilst 99 students from Year 10 and 11 were working towards the silver number; these numbers are from Rawmarsh Community School alone!
The award gives students the chance to do something completely new and improve on things they are already doing. It takes them out of their comfort zone and into a place where they’ll push themselves and have amazing new experiences. They will build confidence, resilience, skills for work and friendship groups. And have a brilliant time doing it.
Looking forward, the DofE can help young people carve out a better future. Colleges, universities, and employers regard a DofE Award highly so it can help to open the right doors for students.
The DofE Award Sections
VOLUNTEERING
Students complete a volunteering placement either at school or within our primary schools. This can be as a classroom assistant working with younger students or completing a range of tasks supporting curriculum areas or pastoral and administrative staff.
PHYSICAL
Students have to take part in a sport, dance or fitness activity. This can be within the school or with an external club or organisation. In the past, this has included football, netball, climbing, synchronised swimming, cycling, and horse riding.
SKILL
For this section students need to learn a skill or take up a hobby. Within school they have the opportunity to learn first aid or to become a sports leader. Many students use activities they are involved within their own time eg. playing a musical instrument, theatre skills, dog training or learning a foreign language.
EXPEDITION
Students have to take part in overnight camping expeditions. This involves planning and walking a route, map reading, carrying all their own equipment and cooking their own meals. At Bronze level, the students take part in a 2-day expedition, camping overnight and returning to school the following day. At Silver level, the expeditions are more demanding. Students complete a 3-day practice expedition and a 3-day qualifying expedition. These take place in the Peak District.