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Intent:
At Shaftesbury High School, our intent for delivering the Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) award is to enable young people from all backgrounds to build up a range of skills and experiences to help them reach their full potential and navigate life’s challenges. DofE is a life-changing experience and gives students the opportunity to have fun with friends whilst discovering new interests and talents. The award allows students to build their confidence and self-esteem, set personal challenges and overcome limits. Our structured programme of volunteering, physical and skills-based challenges inspire, guide and support young people to achieve their potential whilst at the same time enhancing their life skills, further aiding their independence.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a program that young people can work towards giving them an ambitious, personalised experience. It allows students the chance to discover new interests and develop essential skills for life and work whilst pushing themselves out of their comfort zone. Achieving a DofE Award isn’t a competition or about being first. All students can opt into the DofE Award in Key Stage 4 from Bronze Level as part of the enrichment curriculum.
Implementation:
For the DofE Award students have one double lesson a week. These lessons are focused on the volunteering, skill, and physical sections where students complete their chosen activities towards the different sections. Students meet with their DofE Award leader at the start of their DofE Award to complete a program planner for the sections of physical, skill and volunteering to set targets. These activities will be suitable for their current ability in that activity and will be checked by staff that there is enough of a challenge, and it meets DofE Award guidance. Our supportive relationships with staff members ensure that each student receives the guidance they need to succeed. When appropriate students will have access to a series of expedition skills lesson which covers the DofE Award training framework ready for the practice and qualifying expeditions at the bronze award level. The DofE Award is led by a DofE manager who is supported by an operations officer from Central DofE Award Office through training and meetings.
Impact:
The DofE takes students outside the comfort zone of the classroom and their social circle, aiming to broaden their horizons, and give them a positive approach to overcoming challenges and reaching goals. The award boosts their independence, responsibility, and ability to reflect on the impact of their actions. The students develop their teamwork skills by learning to work well and respectfully with others, become more confident and expand their aspirations. Through planning and executing their expedition, students improve their organisation skills, develop resilience, determination, and self-reliance. For many, giving back to their community by volunteering can bring benefits for their own mental health. Many students experience failure before attending Shaftesbury High School and DofE Award helps to change this. The breadth of a DofE programme means students can discover new passions and talents which can influence their future careers. The skills our pupils learn whilst participating in the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze award will provide them with the confidence and ability to cope with the many challenges they will face after leaving Shaftesbury High school.
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