Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
What is the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme?
A life-changing experience. A fun time with friends. An opportunity to discover new interests and talents. A tool to develop essential skills for life and work. A recognised mark of achievement; respected by employers.
The DofE is many things to many people, supporting generations to successfully navigate adult life.
Please read on, but if you have any queries about DofE at Roundwood Park, please contact Lucy-Ann Wallis on L.Wallis@roundwoodpark.co.uk
We have also created a mini website where information will be shared with our DofE students and their parents/carers > visit the site HERE
DofE at Roundwood Park School
Here at Roundwood Park we offer students in Years 10-13 the opportunity to take part in the Silver and Gold DofE Awards (Gold is completed in the Sixth Form). Participants achieve the Awards by completing a personal programme of activities in four sections (five at Gold):
- Volunteering: choosing to give time to help people, the community or society, the environment or animals..
- Physical: any sport, dance or fitness activity. Anything that requires a sustained level of energy and physical activity.
- Skills: an activity that will allow you to prove you have broadened your understanding and increased your expertise in your chosen skill.
- Expedition: plan, train for and complete an unaccompanied, self-reliant expedition with an agreed aim.
- Residential (Gold only): undertake a shared activity, or specific course, with people you don’t know, in a residential setting away from home and in an unfamiliar environment
“After completing my Qualifying Expedition I can honestly say it was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. Not only was it physically challenging but also mentally and emotionally challenging too! I have learnt that I have a lot more determination and willpower than I ever thought I had, but also that if you have a team around you, you can push yourself to do things that you could not do alone!”
We teach all the skills necessary to undertake expeditions, including mapping and navigations skills, food planning and preparation! At Silver there is a Practice Expedition and a Qualifying Expedition and both involve three days of walking and two overnight camps.
We also offer the Gold Award to our Year 12 and 13 students who have completed their Silver Award.
We are incredibly lucky to have a dedicated and committed staff of volunteers who run our Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Centre.
“I am so glad I have finished my Silver DofE Expedition! It was the toughest three days that I have endured, both mentally and physically. However, looking back on the experience, I am so glad that I had the opportunity to take part in it! I have learnt that I am a lot more resilient and determined than first thought, and that if I put my mind to doing something, I will do it! I have learnt how to deal with my emotions and channel them into positive thoughts, to help me get through the day. I am so proud of what I, and my whole team, achieved.”
UCAS and Future Careers
The Award is an enormously valuable achievement and is recognised and valued by colleges and universities worldwide. Emphasising the importance of highlighting the activities you have undertaken as part of your DofE programme on application forms tells the institution that you have an ambitious and positive attitude as well as a range of interests.
All universities and employers are looking for much more than good grades and extra-curricular activities; they are interested in young people who can evidence a genuine and committed interest in their desired area of study.
“Learning the basic principles of camping, first aid training, and orienteering exercises throughout the year allowed me to become an accomplished trekker. I have gained a lot of character from this experience and recommend DofE to any young person from this weekend alone.”
In addition to literacy and numeracy skills, the UK Commission for Employment and Skills and the CBI define the skills and attitude that make someone employable as:
- Self-management
- Problem solving
- Team working
- Communication
A ‘can do’ approach underpins success in working life by helping you to be resilient and adapt to changing situations around you. DofE programmes help participants to develop each of these attributes and skills. For further information about the Award, go to www.dofe.org/do
If you have any queries about DofE at Roundwood Park, please contact Lucy-Ann Wallis on L.Wallis@roundwoodpark.co.uk
