The Duke of Edinburgh is the world’s leading youth achievement award and has inspired millions of young people to challenge their boundaries and contribute to their communities, since its inception in 1956. At Bradfield we offer pupils the chance to attempt the award at Bronze, Silver and Gold level.
All pupils take part in the Faulkners activity week at the end of Year 9, which gives a taste of the expedition section of DofE. Pupils can then enrol in the Bronze DofE programme in Michaelmas of Year 10 where they make a weekly commitment to both a physical and skill activity for six months. Pupils partake in a two-day expedition in the Pang Valley in the Summer Term before completing their final section (volunteering) in Michaelmas of Year 11, usually achieved through their CCF/CSP activity.
Year 11 pupils who complete Bronze by Christmas are then invited to join the Silver fast-track programme. This involves a further six months of weekly physical, skill and volunteering activity, followed by two expeditions, each of three days in duration. The practice expedition takes place in Dorset after GCSE exams and pupils are directed to an external company to complete their qualifying expedition in the summer holidays.
The Gold Programme begins in the Lower Sixth. The Silver fast track candidates should enrol on the Gold programme before October half term and will take a minimum of 12 months to complete. Direct entrants who do not have a Silver Award will take a minimum of 18 months to complete. Gold participants must complete a training expedition in the Brecon Beacons in March and then a qualifying expedition to Eryri (Snowdonia) in May. The Gold Award also requires pupils to complete a separate five-day residential programme with people they do not know and our pupils embark on a rich and diverse range of residential experiences both in the UK and abroad.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme offers young people international recognition for some of the remarkable things that they can achieve, both within the College and in their local community. It is a superb qualification, focussed on personal development. Those who complete carry the award with great pride into their future lives and careers.
For more information, contact Mr Corbett: tcorbett@www.bradfieldcollege.org.uk.
You can also find out more about the DofE at Bradfield in our Co-Curricular Handbook:
