Duke of Edinburgh Awards
A small group of staff volunteer to work with pupils wishing to complete the Duke of Edinburgh awards.
The Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) awards (Bronze, Silver and Gold) offers a fun and adventurous challenge for pupils in Years 9-13. Pupils are able to develop and build new skills and participate in a wide range of activities which challenge them to expand their personal boundaries.
The DofE awards can help to enhance a pupils CV and many employers and universities use this as a way to identify key skills that a suitable candidate will need to be successful within their environment.
Such as:
- Confidence
- Work ethic
- Team work
- Leadership
- Commitment
Each award covers four sections, excluding the Gold award which covers five:
Volunteering*
Pupils are expected to provide a regular service to the community
Physical*
Pupils are expected to provide a regular service to the community
Skills*
Pupils are expected to spend time practising and developing a new skill
Expedition
Pupils will participate in an expedition and overnight camp
Residential (Gold award only)
Pupils will participate in a residential away from home
* Pupils will need to provide ongoing evidence for all these sections for the duration of the activities.
Bronze Award
Age 14+ (Year 9 pupils are able to apply to do their Bronze Award)
Pupils are responsible for working through their volunteering, physical and skills themselves to show their own commitment and independence.
Pupils will need to complete 3 months of regular participation for these sections but will also need to expand one of these sections for a further 3 months.
The expedition section will be supervised and supported by members of staff from the College who will train, guide and assess them throughout the expedition. Pupils will participate in map reading and route planning, tent pitching and camping, menu planning and cooking, first aid, the Countryside Code, back packing and undertaking escorted and un-escorted expeditions in the local countryside.
Pupils will complete the expedition over 2 days/1 night.
Silver Award
Age 15+ (Year 10 pupils are able to apply to do their Silver Award)
Pupils are responsible for working through their volunteering, physical and skills themselves to show their own commitment and independence.
Pupils will need to complete 6 months of regular participation for these sections but will also need to expand one of these sections for a further 6 months.
The expedition section will be supervised and supported by members of staff from the College who will train, guide and assess them throughout the expedition. Pupils will participate in map reading and route planning, tent pitching and camping, menu planning and cooking, first aid, the Countryside Code, back packing and undertaking an escorted and un-escorted expeditions in the local country side.
Pupils will complete the expedition over 3days/2nights.
Please note that Cromwell has equipment available but at a limited availability.
Gold Award
Age 16+ (Post 16 students are able to apply to do their Gold Award)
Students are responsible for working through their volunteering, physical and skills themselves to show their own commitment and independence.
Students will have to complete 12 months of regular activity for the volunteering section. The physical and skills sections will need to be completed, one section for 12 months and one for 6 months. If students haven’t completed the Silver Award they must complete a further 6 months in either of the 12 months sections.
The expedition section will be supervised and supported by members of staff from the College who will train, guide and assess them throughout the expedition. Students will participate in map reading and route planning, tent pitching and camping, menu planning and cooking, first aid, the Countryside Code, back packing and undertaking an escorted and un-escorted expeditions in the local country side.
Students will complete the expedition over 4 days/3 nights.
Please note that Cromwell has equipment available but at a limited availability.
A residential will take place, organised by the student, where they will participate in a shared activity set in a residential area away from over 5 days/4 nights. They will complete this independently, without other students from the school.
Whilst we would encourage students to apply for the awards we are unable to accommodate all pupils. Pupils behaviour and attendance will be taken into account if and when they apply to partake in an award.
Further Information
Should you require further information please do not hesitate to contact Mr Jennings, the DofE Manager:
- by phone on 01354 692193
- or by email on cjennings@cromwell.cambs.sch.uk
- or Click here for more information on the DofE awards
"As an organisation, Amey believes so strongly in the DofE
that the company guarantees an interview to anyone with a Gold Award on their CV,
who meets 70% of the skills needed for the role."
Mel Ewell, Chief Executive, Amey
Source: http://www.dofeskills.org/ 2016