Duke of Edinburgh Award

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) is a challenging programme consisting of leisure time activities, designed to encourage young people to learn new skills, help others, and experience adventure in the outdoors.

Allestree Woodlands School have ran as a Directly Licensed Centre since 2019 and currently offer the Bronze Award to Year 9 students, as well as offering Year 12 students the opportunity to complete the Silver Award. The DofE Award at Allestree Woodlands School is ran by Mr Harries and Mr Gould, along with other members of school staff whom help to run DofE expeditions and training.

Participation in the DofE Award enables students to invest in their own personal development by participating in the local community and learning new skills. Furthermore, it encourages students to demonstrate AWS’ CORE Values:

Courage: to challenge themselves to participate in activities outside of their comfort zone.

Optimism: to understand how learning a new skill may benefit themselves and others in the future.

Regard: to volunteer in worthwhile activities within the local area.

Endeavour: to succeed by working as part of a team during the camping expedition.

The success of the award has contributed to the wider school community as many of our students choose to complete their sections on volunteering and skills with local charities and organisations, helping to give back to our community. Students have also been able to transfer new skills such as teamwork, organisation and timekeeping into their everyday way of working, which has had a hugely positive impact on their school life.

Both awards require students to be dedicated to completing all aspects of the award whilst demonstrating the ability to remain organised throughout the course.

DofE Bronze Award

There are three elements that must be completed to achieve this award:

Physical section: the aim here is to participate in physical activity such as football, netball, walking etc.
Skills section: the aim here is to learn a new skill or develop an existing skill such as British Sign Language, learn to play instrument, learn to cook etc.
Volunteering section: the aim here is to give up your time to have a meaningful impact within the local community. Examples include helping at a local charity shop, helping at a local park run, assisting an elderly person with their local shop etc.

Each participant would have to dedicate themselves to one hour per week for three months (12 hours), whilst they must dedicate themselves to one hour per week for six months (24 hours) for the third section. Participants may choose which section they’d like to complete for six months.

Bronze Training and Expedition

Once enrolled on to the award, pupils will receive weekly training to learn and develop all necessary skills required to be successful on their expedition. Pupils will be required to demonstrate their ability to navigate using a map and compass, plan a logical route and showcase camp and craft skills.

The Bronze Award consists of pupils walking for two days and camping for one night.

Pupils will plot a route from our schools’ playing fields and complete their walk at Drum Hill Scout Campsite before setting up camp for the evening. Pupils will return to school the following afternoon.

DofE Silver Award

There are three elements that must be completed to achieve this award:

Physical section: the aim here is to participate in physical activity such as football, netball, walking etc.
Skills section: the aim here is to learn a new skill or develop an existing skill such as British Sign Language, learn to play instrument, learn to cook etc.
Volunteering section: the aim here is to give up your time to have a meaningful impact within the local community. Examples include helping at a local charity shop, helping at a local park run, assisting an elderly person with their local shop etc.

If the participant has previously completed their silver award, they must complete six months (one hour per week) for volunteering, six months (one hour per week) for either their physical or skills section and then three months (one hour per week) for the remaining section.

However, if they haven’t previously completed their bronze award, a further six months in the volunteering section, or their chosen six month section is required.

Silver Training and Expedition

Once enrolled on to the award, pupils will training to learn and develop all necessary skills required to be successful on their expedition. Pupils will be required to demonstrate their ability to navigate using a map and compass, plan a logical route and showcase camp and craft skills.

The Silver Award consists of two walks:

Practice expedition – 2 days walking / 2 nights camping
Assessed expedition – 3 days walking / 2 nights camping

At the end of the assessed expedition, pupils are expected to complete a short presentation based on their team goal set prior to the expedition.