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Introductions
• Miss Adams – Co-ordinator of the
Bronze Award
• Miss Alloy – Co-ordinator of the
Silver & Gold Award
• We have been running the DofE
award at MGS for 7 years with a
further 9 years of experience of
supervising DofE expeditions.
• 2024-25, Mr Pinn & Mr Eccles will
be co-ordinating Bronze in Miss
Adams’ absence
What is the Duke of Edinburgh Award?
HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of
Edinburgh first conceived the
programme in 1954 to help young men
make the best use of their free time,
find interests and acquire self-
confidence and a sense of purpose that
would support them into their future
and help them to become well-
rounded citizens. The award has
evolved significantly since then, but
the founding principles of service,
skills, fitness and adventure remain.
Why we offer the award at MGS
• The DofE award encourages students to
try a broad range of activities.
• Self-motivation and organisation are
recognised officially by the award.
• MGS was one of the original pilot schools
for the DofE and its values of personal
development and service to a community
are still an important part of the school’s
ethos.
What we offer • An opportunity to engage in the
award at all levels and a
at MGS pathway to get there
• Support with independent
sections
• Organisaton of expeditions
• Pastoral support on expeditions
• Opportunity to take on
leadership roles at Silver/Gold
Why a meeting and not an email?
• email fatigue
• Chance to ask questions
• Students and parents get the same information
• DofE is quite a significant undertaking
• Not all schools run DofE in exactly the same way
• See who else is getting involved
What does a participant have to do?
Participants
• undertake activities to support a
community
• set goals for improved physical fitness
• learn a new skill or improve an existing
one
• work as a team to navigate through the
countryside and learn campcraft.
Activities should be carried out for at
least one hour a week for 3 or 6 months
What does a participant have to do?
• Participants collect evidence each
week they work on an activity
• Evidence is uploaded to an online
platform eDofE, which is approved by
the level co-ordinator
• At the end of 3 or 6 months a chosen
assessor writes a report for the
participant which is uploaded to
eDofE.
• When all sections are complete, the
award is verified independently
before being certified.
Activities

Volunteering Physical
Anything that raises your heart rate or makes you sweat
Supports a community
Is recognised by a world sporting organisation
Should be planned and meaningful Can be fitness related through a variety of activities if there is a
Should not replace a paid position way of measuring improved fitness

Skill Expedition
Cannot also be a sport Organised by school
Can involve following a course
Walking in open country
Can be practical or cerebral
Cannot be part of your GCSEs
Tests team work (4-7 per team)
Goals
Your goal should be MEASURABLE and achievable e.g.
• by the end of 3 months I would like to be able to run 5km in 1 hour
• To be able to use a variety of functions on my new camera
• To collect 10kg of rubbish from the beach at Herne Bay
Evidence
Each time you work on a section you must upload evidence of what you have been doing

Quick diary entry style report with reflections on progress to goal

Photos – with explanation!

An activity log

Screen shots of a course followed

Assessors cannot be family members or peers

Ideally it should be someone who will observe you carrying out the activity

You may ask form tutors or other members of staff with some expertise to
be your assessor and you can keep them updated about your progress

You could set up a reciprocal arrangement with a friend and their parents.
The DofE Timeline at MGS
The summer holidays Start researching activities for each section and plan goals
September Sign up to DofE
Attend a eDofE support session
Start activities and upload evidence weekly
October – December Work on one or more sections of your award
Upload evidence to eDofE
Start of Term 3 (January) By the end of January you should have at least 1 x 3 month section of the award
completed or almost completed.
Get your assessor to sign off your section.
End of March By the time you break up for Easter you should be finished or almost finished a
second section of your award.
Beginning of June Attend the training and practice weekend
June – August All sections except the expedition should be complete
September Complete the assessed expedition
Receive your Bronze Award
Receive an invite from Miss Alloy to join the Silver Award
Roles and Responsibilities
Participants Parents DofE Coordinator
• Engage in weekly suitable • Guidance • Provide information to
activities participants and parents via
• Set clear and measurable goals • Encouragement Teams and Parentmail
for your activities • Respond to queries about the
• Keep evidence of your activities • Reminders award
every time you engage in them • Set a timeline and reminders via
• Upload evidence to eDofE • Communication with school Teams and Parentmail
regularly • Provide support for using eDofE
• Read communications via • Expedition support • Sign off evidence on eDofE
eDofE and Teams and take • Organise and supervise
prompt action • Recognise participants’ expeditions
• Ask for help when needed achievements • Celebrate achievements of
• Make the most of opportunities participants
to learn
What does it cost?
• The Bronze Award typically costs approximately £225.
• The initial payment of £50 is a non-refundable sign up fee that covers a eDofE
account and school admin costs.
• The remaining money is collected in 2 installments to cover the training and
practice weekend, the assessed expedition and all kit hire. All our training and
assessment will be provided by an AAP (Approved Activity Provider), formerly
KCC. It is highly likely that this element will also be non-refundable from next year.
• There are funds we can apply for to to support students from lower-income
families and with additional needs. Please do not let finances be a barrier to
engaging with the award.
What next?
• Over the summer, decide whether the Duke of Edinburgh Award could be for you.
Look at the DofE website for more information and ideas of activities you could
get involved in.
• You will be contacted by Mr Pinn via ParentMail at the start of September with
sign-up forms to fill in and payment details. Both are required to be enroled.
• We will then keep you updated with messages about what to do and when via
Teams and ParentMail.
 After enrolment
• An eDofE account will be set up in your name and
linked to your school email. Your username will be
your name, potentially with a number e.g.
JoeSmith44. Your password will be your 8 digit
date of birth, which you will then change.
• You will be invited to a session with Mr Eccles to
set up your account and start adding your activity
plans.
• If you provide your full address on eDofE, you will
be sent a welcome pack in the post.
Useful Links
• https://www.dofe.org/do/ideas/ - Ideas for activities
• https://www.dofe.org/do/activitylogs/ - Activity logs
• https://www.dofe.org/opportunity-finder/opportunity-for-dofe-participant -
opportunity finder (N.B. Most of these come at an extra cost)
• https://www.dofe.org/beyondthecv/ - The benefits of DofE
ANY QUESTIONS?