Duke of Edinburgh Award
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (commonly known as DofE) is internationally recognised and considered valuable by employers.
Known as the ‘Golden A Level’, students completing the Award develop considerable skills in teamwork, communication and problem solving. 93% of participants believe that having a DofE Award has helped them secure employment or a place at university.
There are 3 levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold.
Participation in selected clubs will contribute to your Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
The aim is to inspire, guide and support young people in their self-development and to recognise their achievements. Students gaining the Gold award will be presented with it at one of the Royal Palaces in London.
Sections of activity
The award is achieved by completing a personal programme of activities in each section:
- Physical
- Volunteering
- Skill
- Expedition
- Residential (Gold award only)
“I really learnt a lot from the Silver DofE award, it consisted of 4 sections and the process of completing each of them was so much fun, especially the expedition. For the expedition section, I went to the Peak District and was amazed by the views there, although I was challenged by the heavy rucksack, I completed the expedition successfully.
I also enjoyed finishing the other 3 sections which were skills, physical and volunteering, and the activities I did were Physics Olympiad, basketball and volunteering at charity shop. I received a lot of help from the school in applying for all 4 sections, especially for the volunteering and expedition.
All in all it was a wonderful experience and I am looking forward to doing the Gold DofE award in the future.” – Hein Lynn (Year 12)
“Doing the DofE Silver Award taught me many things: how to lead, how to hike, how to survive on just chocolate for 2 meals a day, and most importantly… how to smile when the wind was about to blow you off a cliff.
For Volunteering, I joined the school Student Leadership Team. I helped plan events, help out with events, and spoke on stage during conferences. I learned how to stay calm when things go wrong and how to lead the students accordingly.
For the Physical section, I played badminton and went to the gym every weekend. At first, it was challenging to stay consistent, but over time I built stamina and strength. It also became a great way to clear my mind and manage stress especially during exam week.
My Skill section was reading. I was reading Physics related books due to interest and reflected on what I learned. It improved not just my Physics skills, but also my ability to focus and think critically.
The highlight was the Expedition. Hiking and camping for three days in unpredictable weather and routes tested our teamwork and resilience. We were tired, sore, and got lost quite a few times during the assessed expedition but we eventually found our way to the destination!” – Tian Jiao, Year 12
“Taking part in the DofE Award was both challenging and rewarding, with the expedition being the most memorable part. Over several days, we hiked roughly 15km a day, carrying full backpacks through hilly and uneven terrain. We learned how to cook outdoors, set up tents, and support each other while navigating unfamiliar areas. Although the scenery was beautiful, the journey was far from easy – we were often exhausted, but we kept going. I’m proud of the way our team stayed motivated and showed genuine determination and resilience.
In addition to the expedition, I completed the other three sections. For volunteering, I taught my friend the Southern Min language to help promote and share the culture of my hometown. For the physical section, I played Badminton every week with the school club. For skills, I focused on cooking, experimenting with ingredients and trying new recipes to improve.
Overall, the experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me a lot about perseverance, teamwork, and self-discipline. It’s something I’ll always be glad I did.” – Xueru, Year 12
