DofE International Award
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is an international youth awards programme originally founded in the UK in 1956 by Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh and has since expanded to over 140 countries across the globe. The awards are focused on adolescents and young adults completing a series of character building, teamwork and self-improvement exercises and tasks over a number of months. There are three levels of the award; Bronze, Silver or Gold.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is an extremely valuable accolade for any young person to have. It shows hard work, dedication, willingness to better one’s self and the ability to work well both individually and as a team to any Universities as well as potential future Employers.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Bronze Award is part of the HeadStart Secondary Curriculum and is taken during the first year of Key Stage 4 (Year 10). The higher Silver or Gold awards are taken later on a voluntary basis.
With supervision and assistance from trained adults and International Award leaders, the participants select, set and complete objectives in the following areas:
- Volunteering: undertaking service to individuals or the community.
- Physical: improving in an area of sport, dance or fitness activities.
- Skills: developing practical and social skills and personal interests.
- Expedition: planning, training for and completion of an adventurous journey in the UK or abroad.
At the Gold level, participants must do an additional fifth Residential section, which involves staying and working away from home for five days, doing a shared activity.