In more than seven decades of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award one thing has become evident: never doubt what young people can do. Time and again we’ve seen that when you give young people the chance to prove to themselves what they are capable of, there is no limit to what they can achieve.

Achieving a Bronze Award is a significant accomplishment. However, it is important that both students and parents/carers understand that joining the DofE is a commitment. It is not simply an activity that students attend occasionally; participants are expected to take responsibility for completing each section consistently and to persevere even when aspects of the programme become challenging.

Furthermore, the Bronze Award is potentially only the beginning of what can become a long-term DofE journey. Students who enjoy the experience can progress to Silver and then Gold, with each level providing greater challenge, independence and responsibility. Completing Silver and Gold demonstrates sustained commitment, resilience and the ability to set a goal and work towards it over a significant period of time.

The DofE is also something that students can proudly include on CVs, college and sixth-form applications, university applications, apprenticeship applications and job applications. Employers and educational institutions value the qualities developed through the Award, including teamwork, leadership, organisation, communication, resilience, independence, responsibility and perseverance. These are transferable skills that can help students to stand out when competing for places, courses, apprenticeships and employment.

Most importantly, however, the Award gives young people the opportunity to demonstrate through their actions—not simply through academic results—that they are willing to challenge themselves, overcome difficulties, contribute to others and commit to achieving a long-term goal.

 

What is involved?

Students will complete four sections of the Bronze Award:

• Physical – regularly taking part in a physical activity
• Volunteering – giving their time to help others, their community or an organisation
• Skills – developing a new skill or improving an existing one
• Expedition – completing a two-day, one-night assessed expedition

For the first three sections, students will be expected to commit approximately one hour per week to each section, over a period of 3–6 months. This equates to around three hours per week in total. However, these sections do not necessarily need to be completed consecutively; students can work on them simultaneously or complete them one at a time, depending on their individual circumstances, availability and other commitments. Students will also need to keep a record of their progress and meet the deadlines set by the DofE Team. Students will receive a presentation explaining each component of the Award and the expectations placed upon them. Further information is also available from The Duke of Edinburgh's Award website.

The expedition is a particularly important part of the Award. Students will receive training in areas such as navigation, first aid, campcraft, route planning and teamwork before completing their assessed expedition. This will be on Saturday 12^th June from 9am to 5pm and attendance is compulsory before going on expedition.

Commitment and attendance

Students participating in the DofE are expected to:

• Attend regular DofE meetings and training sessions.
• Attend the compulsory training day on Saturday 12th June, 9.00am–5.00pm.
• Complete their weekly Physical, Volunteering and Skills commitments consistently.
• Attend all expedition training and expedition dates.
• Take responsibility for recording and completing their Award sections.
• Demonstrate a positive attitude, resilience and willingness to work as part of a team.

Behaviour, Commitment and Expedition Expectations

Students are expected to demonstrate appropriate behaviour, responsibility and respect throughout the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme. As expeditions involve students working independently and safely in challenging environments, they must be able to demonstrate that they can be trusted to follow instructions and meet the school’s expectations for behaviour. If a student’s behaviour gives staff reason to believe that they cannot be trusted to behave safely and appropriately on expedition, they will not be permitted to attend. In these circumstances, no refund will be offered. Students are also expected to have completed at least two of the three sections before attending their expedition, as this demonstrates the commitment and responsibility required to successfully complete the Award.

Before attending their expedition, all students will receive thorough training on the 20 conditions of the Duke of Edinburgh expedition, including expectations around navigation, teamwork, safety, equipment, route planning and behaviour. Students will be expected to understand and follow these conditions throughout the expedition. For example, students must be prepared to be out on expedition for a minimum of six hours each day, carrying their own equipment and working as part of their team to complete their planned route. They will have opportunities during training to practise navigation, route planning and working together as a team so that they are fully prepared for the demands of the expedition.

Failure to meet the required standards, particularly where this involves unsafe behaviour, failure to follow staff instructions, inappropriate conduct or putting themselves or others at risk, may result in the student being withdrawn from the expedition and/or being unable to successfully complete the expedition section of their Award. Students will be made fully aware of these expectations during their training and will be given opportunities to demonstrate that they are ready to undertake the expedition safely and responsibly.

 

Please consider carefully whether your child is ready to make this commitment before registering them. We want every student who starts their Bronze Award to have the opportunity to complete it successfully, and this requires commitment from both the student and their family.

All expeditions are currently planned for the summer term, with exact dates to be confirmed.

Cost and accessibility

We are committed to ensuring that the DofE is accessible to every student who wishes to take part. The Award is an inclusive programme and participation should not be prevented by a family's financial circumstances, religion, culture or background. Whatever a young person’s ability, interest, background, culture, a DofE award can be adapted for them. It is a prestigious and trusted way to turn the things they love into lifelong skills.

The initial registration cost is £30.50.

There is an additional £59.50 contribution towards expedition costs, insurance, campsites and staffing. This makes the total cost £90.00. This is payable in instalments if required.

For students receiving Pupil Premium funding, the cost will be reduced to £30.50.

We recognise that even where financial support is available, families may have circumstances that make meeting the cost difficult. If the cost presents a barrier to your child's participation, please contact me directly and confidentially. We will always do our best to identify a way forward. Please do not assume that your child cannot participate because of financial circumstances.

We also recognise that students and families come from a wide range of religious, cultural and family backgrounds. The DofE Team is committed to working respectfully with all families to make reasonable arrangements wherever possible so that every student has an equal opportunity to participate and achieve their Award. Please do get in touch if you have any questions.

Due to the nature of the national DofE scheme and costs incurred when places are registered and expeditions are organised, we are unable to offer refunds once a place has been purchased, and the full payment will remain payable, even if your child is unable to complete the award this year or if they change their mind. Once they have registered, they remain registered and can continue the award until they turn 25.

The deadline for payment through ParentPay is Friday 23rd October 2026.

Equipment provided by school

As part of the cost, students will be able to borrow essential expedition equipment from school, including:

• Tent
• Rucksack
• Trangia
• Compass
• Maps and map cases
• First-aid kits and emergency equipment

Families will need to provide:

• Suitable walking shoes/boots
• Sleeping bag
• Waterproof jacket

We will provide further guidance about suitable equipment during the training programme. There is no expectation that families purchase expensive specialist equipment. Where possible, we will help students access the equipment they need.

How parents and carers can support the DofE

The DofE is a fantastic opportunity for young people to develop independence, but it is also a programme that relies on the support of the wider school community.

We are therefore asking parents and carers to consider volunteering to support our DofE expeditions.

You do not need to be an experienced outdoor instructor or have previous DofE experience. There are a variety of ways in which parents/carers may be able to support the programme, depending on school requirements and relevant checks, including assisting staff during expedition weekends, helping with equipment or supporting the smooth running of expedition activities.

Having additional adult volunteers makes a significant difference to what we are able to offer our students and helps us to keep the programme running safely and successfully.

If you would be willing to volunteer your time to support a DofE expedition, please contact me using the details below. Further information about what would be involved will be provided to interested parents/carers.

Other ways that families can help are:

• Help make sure the activities they pick are exciting, but realistic for your budget, transport and local facilities.
• Remind them to keep gathering their evidence, like photos and certificates, and upload to eDofE.
• Help them to find and assessor. The Assessor signs off each DofE section and can be anyone who knows about or organises the activity. It cannot be a family member.
• Remind them to make sure their assessors write their reports as their programme comes to an end. Without it, they cannot complete the section and the DofE.
• Make sure they include their DofE assessments on their CV or personal statements.

Registration

If you are happy for your son/daughter to participate in the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award, please complete the payment through your ParentPay account by Friday 23rd October 2026.

Please discuss the commitment involved with your child before registering. We want students to embark upon the DofE because they are enthusiastic about the opportunities it provides and are prepared to commit to completing the Award.

We are incredibly proud to offer the Duke of Edinburgh Award to our students and believe it can be a genuinely transformative experience. Through the programme, students will have opportunities to challenge themselves, develop independence, make a difference to others, learn new skills and create experiences that they will remember for many years to come.

We look forward to supporting your child throughout this exciting journey and helping them work towards achieving their Bronze Award.

If you have any questions, concerns about accessibility or financial circumstances, or would like to volunteer to support an expedition, please do not hesitate to contact us at amaslin@jha.keystrust.org or leave a telephone message with Main Reception.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs A Maslin
DofE Manager