DofE has been delivered at Abbot Beyne since 2017 and in that time many of our students have successfully achieved their Bronze and Silver Awards. Several have gone on to become DofE Ambassadors and Young Leaders, further developing their skills and helping to inspire others.
The Four Sections of the Award
- Volunteering – Students give back to their community, with opportunities such as fundraising, conservation work, first aid, or working with children.
- Skills – Students develop a new or existing skill, which could include cooking, photography, learning a language, or playing a musical instrument.
- Physical – This can involve traditional team sports, or other activities such as kayaking, yoga, shooting, or table tennis.
- Expedition – Students plan, train for, and complete a camping expedition, usually in the Peak District or Wales.
A key principle across all sections is that students choose their own activities and commit to them over a sustained period of time.
Levels of the Award
There are three levels of the DofE programme, each increasing in challenge, time commitment, and minimum age:
- Bronze – for those aged 14+
- Silver – for those aged 15+
- Gold – for those aged 16+
Since 2017, over 150 Abbot Beyne students have achieved their Bronze and Silver Awards, with many returning to continue at the next level. We are proud of our excellent pass rate, which reflects the dedication of our students and staff. The Award gives students the chance to show their potential outside the classroom and develop vital skills such as leadership, communication, teamwork and resilience.
We ensure that the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is accessible to all and we create a safe, supportive and fun learning environment throughout the journey. To help students succeed, we:
- Hold weekly meetings every Monday for Bronze and Silver groups to track progress and teach key expedition skills.
- Use Showbie to gather evidence, share videos and set tasks ahead of expeditions.
- Provide a bespoke DofE logbook, designed to help students understand the Award structure and monitor their progress.
- Organise practice walks, where students test their map-reading, fitness and teamwork before taking part in their assessed expedition.
We are particularly proud of the number of students who have gone on to become DofE Ambassadors at Abbot Beyne, receiving specialist training and developing leadership skills that look impressive on their CVs. In fact, four of our most recent Head Students all completed their Bronze and Silver Awards, became Ambassadors, and are now working towards their Gold Award.
For more information, please contact Mr Lynch – j.lynch@abbotbeyneschool.co.uk
Some things said by the students who have been on the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE):
DofE was a very challenging experience but with the help of my team we made it through the many difficult expeditions despite getting lost many times and arguing a lot. Although DofE definitely tested the patience of my teammates, it helped bring us all closer as friends and provided us with memories we will never forget.
I love being outdoors, it was a great experience. I am currently working towards my Gold Award and I am an ambassador for DofE and would encourage anyone to get involved with it.
It was good fun, looks good on the CV and I got to go camping with my mates before we all moved on to different Sixth Forms or Colleges. I loved pushing myself and seeing what I could do, the staff who helped out on the expeditions made it so memorable and enjoyable. I made so many memories that will stay with me.
Fantastic award, I did things on DofE that I thought I would never do. I didn't really know my group before the DofE but by the end of it they were some of my closest friends and still are. Do the DofE you won't regret it.
I loved doing the DofE award at Abbot Beyne School. It was hard but I pushed myself and enjoyed doing the different sections. I also built up different relationships with staff and students that I wouldn't have normally done, which made the experience better.