Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award
What is the DofE award?
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award gives learners a real experience to build on.
It is open to anyone aged 14 to 24. There are three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each level moves you further than the last.
Every level has four sections: Volunteering, Skills, Physical and an Expedition.
Why do the DofE award?
The award helps learners find new interests and build on their skills whilst having fun with friends and making new ones.
It builds self-esteem and confidence. Learners gain skills for work and life: resilience, problem-solving, teamwork, communication and self-motivation. It strengthens their CV and gives them a recognised mark of achievement that employers respect.
DofE and how it works at Ysgol Hendrefelin
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is open to every learner in Key Stage 4. We hope all learners achieve Bronze and some go on to Silver. We do not offer Gold here. Learners who want to keep going take Gold at college and some of our former learners have done exactly this.
Learners work on the award every Friday in rotating groups. Most of the award happens during the school day, so learners take part without giving up their own time. This matters. Many of our learners find it hard to commit to activities outside school, so we build the award into the week. Everyone gets a fair chance to take part and succeed.
Fridays give learners a routine to look forward to. They work alongside their group, share the same goals and see their progress build week by week. The award becomes part of school life, not an extra task on top of it.
Volunteering
Learners take part in litter picks around the local area and beaches. They help at Down to Earth by maintaining paths, clearing vegetation and splitting logs. Years 10 and 11 can take Volunteering as a vocational subject.
Skills
Learners build skills in Woodwork, Cookery, Photography and First Aid. Some go further in their own time, learning an instrument or learning to knit.
Physical
Learners complete this through PE and by representing the school in football, netball and gymnastics. They walk with their groups on Fridays across the Gower and Brecon Beacons. Sport played outside school counts too.
Expedition
The expedition takes place in Brecon or the Gower. Bronze is two days walking and one night camping. Silver is three days walking and two nights camping.
We remind learners the award is not a competition. It is about setting your own challenges and pushing your own boundaries. Learners find new interests, gain confidence, build friendships and grow as leaders. Most of all, it is fun. They make memories that last a lifetime.
