The Duke of Edinburgh Award at Stanborough Secondary School.

We offer the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Bronze award and are expecting to offer the Silver award as the programme develops.

What is the Duke of Edinburgh Award? 

 The Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE) is a youth awards programme founded in the United Kingdom in 1956 by Prince Philip, which recognises adolescents and young adults for completing a series of self-improvement exercises. The programmes are at three progressive levels, which, if successfully completed, lead to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Completing each award takes about one year; participants can start on the academic year after their 13th birthday (year 9) and have to complete the awards by their 25th birthday. There are around 300,000 participants enrolled annually, with the award expanding to 140 other countries. 

 With assistance from adult Leaders, participants select and set objectives in each of the following areas: 

  • Volunteering: Undertaking service to individuals or the community. 
  • Physical: Improving in an area of sport, dance or fitness activities. 
  • Skills: Developing practical and social skills and personal interests. 
  • Expedition: planning, training for and completion of an adventurous journey in the UK or abroad. 

Of the first three sections, one must be completed through 6 months, the others through 3 months.

 At Gold level, participants must do an additional fifth Residential section, which involves staying and working away from home for five days, doing a shared activity.   

This programme helps pupils develop independence, planning and time management skills, and resilience, as they are required to plan and complete each section in their own time. Each participant is given an online account where they submit the evidence needed to complete each section.

Duke of Edinburgh Award at Stanborough School

At the moment, the Duke of Edinburgh programme at Stanborough is open to year 9 and 10 students only, working towards their Bronze award. We will offer the Silver Award from the academic year 2022-23.

For the winter and spring terms, the participants are supported in completing the first three sections (Skills, Volunteering and Physical) of the Bronze Award. During the summer term, they plan and carry out the Expedition section. All participants will need to complete the first part of the programme before they are allowed to take part in the Expedition section.

Weekly meetings take place for the first few weeks while the pupils familiarise themselves with the programme and the online system. The meetings will then reduce in frequency while the participants complete the first three sections, but will become weekly again in the summer term in preparation for the expedition.

The expedition will take place in the local area and will require an overnight stay. All participants will be given a list of necessary equipment they need to take with them. Some of the larger equipment will be provided by the school.

The Duke of Edinburgh Coordinators are currently Mrs E Hussey and Mrs L Brambilla, who can be contacted via email: lbrambilla@stanboroughpark.herts.sch.uk or through the school phone number.

For more information, please reference: www.dofe.org