Challenge yourself. Build confidence. Discover what you're capable of.
The Duke of Edinburgh's (DofE) Award gives pupils the opportunity to step beyond the classroom, develop new skills and gain experiences that stay with them for life. Through volunteering, physical activity, learning a new skill and expedition training, pupils build resilience, leadership, teamwork and independence while creating lasting memories with friends.
Why take part?
At St George’s we actively encourage pupils to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award scheme. DofE encourages young people to take part in a wide range of activities they may not have previously experienced.
DofE Awards are widely recognised by employers and universities for helping young people develop valuable transferable skills, including teamwork, leadership, resilience, initiative, communication and problem-solving. Many pupils use their DofE experience to demonstrate valuable transferable skills in their UCAS application, helping to strengthen their university applications.
The Award Levels
There are four sections (five at Gold) that make up each level of the Award programme. Pupils complete a physical, skills and volunteering section and take part in an assessed expedition, with pre-expedition practice and training.
The three levels of DofE are Bronze, Silver and Gold. Pupils who successfully complete their Gold Award are invited to attend a Gold Award Presentation at a Royal residence, such as Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle, to celebrate their achievement. Participants receive recognition on completion of each level.
DofE at St George's
Pupils undertake their training for the Bronze Award during School club time in the Spring Term of Year 9. A Practice and Qualifying Expedition are overseen by School staff in the locality. Silver and Gold Awards are started in Year 10 and the Lower Sixth respectively and involve outside staff, as necessary, with expeditions taking place in the Brecon Beacons for Gold qualification.
Our pupils enjoy being outside, exploring the countryside and taking part in outdoor pursuits as a break from their school work. The experience embraces diverse social engagement with volunteering activities often involving outreach and environmental projects, which is an important aspect of the experience.
Expeditions
Expeditions are one of the most rewarding parts of the DofE Award. Pupils learn essential outdoor skills, including navigation, campcraft and teamwork, before putting them into practice on both training and qualifying expeditions. Working together to overcome challenges, they build confidence, resilience and lasting friendships while enjoying the great outdoors.
Skills for Life
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award helps pupils develop skills that extend far beyond school. Through volunteering, learning new skills, physical activity and expedition challenges, participants gain independence, leadership, communication and problem-solving abilities. These transferable skills are valued by universities, employers and apprenticeship providers, helping pupils stand out as confident, capable and well-rounded individuals.