Duke of Edinburgh
The Duke of Edinburgh award is a very popular extra-curricular activity at
AGS.
We offer students the opportunity to complete each of the 3 levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Students in Year 9 can enrol for the Bronze Award, and can continue to the Silver Award in Year 10. Sixth Form students can enrol for the prestigious Gold Award.
For more information about the different levels, please see the information below or email Mr Jervis directly a.jervis@alcestergs.com
Bronze Award
Timescales:
| Volunteering | Physical | Skill | Expedition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months | 3 months | 3 months | 2 days/1 night |
| Weekly time commitment of 1 hr per activity | 6 hours planned activity and 11km on each day of their expedition | ||
| All participants must undertake a further 3 months in the Volunteering, Physical or Skills Section | |||
The Bronze training and assessed expeditions will take place in the summer term. Please see school calendar for dates.
See Completing your DofE section below for more information and resources.
Silver Award
- To enrol for the Silver award, students must have completed their bronze award (although under certain circumstances they can do direct silver)
| Volunteering | Physical | Skill | Expedition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Months | One section for 6 months and the other for 3 months | Plan, train for and undertake a 3 day, 2 night expedition | |
| Weekly time commitment of 1 hr per activity. | 7 hours planned activity and walk 15km on each day of their expedition | ||
| Direct entrants must undertake a further 6 months in either the Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills sections. | |||
The Silver planned and assessed expeditions will take place in the summer term. Please see school calendar for dates.
See Completing your DofE section below for more information and resources.
Gold Award
- To enrol for the Gold award, students must have completed their silver award (although under certain circumstances they can do direct gold)
- Students joining AGS for Sixth Form should complete their Silver Award through their previous school
before enrolling for their Gold Award.
| Volunteering | Physical | Skill | Expedition | Residential |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Months | One section for 12 months and the other for 6 months | Plan, train for and undertake a 4 day, 3 night expedition | Undertake a shared activity in a residential setting for 5 days and 4 night | |
| Weekly time commitment of 1 hr per activity | 8 hours planned activity and walk 20km on each day of their expedition. | |||
| Direct entrants must undertake a further 6 months in either the Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills sections | ||||
The Gold practice and assessed expeditions will take place in the summer term. Please see school calendar for dates.
See Completing your DofE section below for more information and resources.
Completing your DofE
1. Organise your activities
Decide what you want to do for each section and for how long. Check the activities are valid i.e on this list.
2. Identify an Assessor
Identify an Assessor for each section - not a parent/friend. If you need your eDofE leader to be your assessor you will need to keep an activity log. Agree goals and dates.
3. Activate your account
Login to eDoFE and entry your username and password. Not sure how to login? Click here
Download the edofe app via the App Store or Google Play
4. Submit for approval
Input the information to eDoFE and SUBMIT FOR APPROVAL.
Additional details are required for Gold Residentials. You'll need to complete this approval form and upload it to eDofE. Make sure your residential fits the criteria.
5. Complete your activities for the correct amount of time
An average of one hour per week for the full duration - (3/6/12/18 months)
If you miss a week then you need to add time on to the end.
6. Add evidence to eDoFE to complete each section
Assessor reports can be added in 3 ways
- Via the assessor report website (you need to provide your ID number) when then gets sent to eDofE
- Uploading a copy of a report to eDofE - scan or photograph a report card from your Welcome Pack, spare copies here
- By uploading your activity log along with any other evidence (photos) to eDofE and asking your eDofE leader to write your report.
All assessor report must contain start and end dates, a comment and assessor contact details.
5. Go on your expedition
All expedition resources are here including expedition training guide, kit lists, rucksack packing guides, menu plans etc
6. Gold Residential
The residential section only exists at Gold level. It involves spending 5 days and 4 nights away from home on a shared activity with people you’ve never met before therefore, can't be a school trip
Click here for a list of residential ideas. Before signing up for and potentially paying for a residential activity, students should look closely at the 'Gold residential checklist' here to ensure that the activity is suitable and complete an Approval form available here and then submit it to Mr Jervis.
7. Complete your award
Once your last section has been signed off it will be verified and you will receive your badge and certificate in assembly.
At Gold level, you must complete the GAP (Gold Award Presentation) section of eDofE when you submit your last section. Your award will then go to Mrs Bellizzi and then the Central England DofE office to be verified. Badges will either be given out in assembly or posted. Certificates are given out in the official awards presentations.
