The Duke of Edinburgh's Award

What is it?

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) is a world-renowned youth development program that challenges young people to push their boundaries, develop new skills, and make a difference in their communities. Open to individuals aged 14 to 24, the award helps participants build confidence, resilience, and leadership skills through a structured, self-driven journey.

The DofE is divided into three levels—Bronze, Silver, and Gold—each requiring increasing levels of commitment. To complete an award, participants must undertake activities in four key sections:

Volunteering – Giving back to the community through charitable work or support for local organizations.
Physical – Engaging in a sport or fitness activity to promote a healthy lifestyle.
Skills – Learning a new ability or improving an existing talent, from playing an instrument to cooking.
Expedition – Planning and undertaking an outdoor adventure, such as hiking or kayaking, which develops teamwork and perseverance.

At the Gold level, participants also complete a Residential section, where they take part in a shared experience away from home, such as a camp, course, or volunteering project. The students need to organise this part of the Gold award themselves (guidance will be provided).

The DofE Award provides countless benefits to young people. It fosters personal growth, independence, and resilience while also enhancing university applications and job prospects. Many employers and educational institutions highly regard the award, as it demonstrates commitment, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work well in a team. Additionally, it encourages young people to step outside their comfort zones, make new friends, and create lasting memories.

Whether seeking adventure, personal growth, or a way to stand out in the future, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is an invaluable experience that prepares young people for life’s challenges.

At Stretford Grammar School students in Year 9 are encouraged to take part in the award at Bronze level, and Year 12 students are encouraged to take part at Gold level.

How do students get involved?

Students can enrol onto the Bronze Award in Year 9. Parents and students are invited to an information evening, where details of award and the practicalities of doing it are explained. Students are encouraged to complete the Volunteering, Physical and Skills section of the award prior to embarking on the Expedition section.

The Expedition section takes place in the Summer Term and involves a 3 days and 2 nights walking and camping expedition. The students complete their expedition in groups of 7 and must be self sufficient with their personal and group kit – including food for the duration.

What Costs are Involved?

There are costs associated with the award. This includes a registration fee paid to the Duke of Edinburgh Award. There are also costs associated with the expedition section – at present the school benefits from an external outdoor education provider who delivers the expedition section. Costs for some personal kit for the expedition should also be considered, such as appropriate walking boots, sleeping bag and waterproofs. The external provider does cover the group kit required for the expedition.

Students can complete the other sections of the award by doing activities that require no costs, however, some students do choose to do activities (or even continue with extra-curricular activities already undertaken) that they pay for – such as music lessons, external sports clubs or other interests.

How Long Does it Take?

Here’s a table outlining the time frames required for completing the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at Bronze and Gold levels:

Award Level	Section	Minimum Time Required
Bronze	Volunteering	3 months
	Physical	3 months
	Skills	3 months
	One additional section (either Physical or Skills)	Extra 3 months (making it 6 months in total)
	Expedition	3 days, 2 night – includes 1 full day of training and practice
Total Duration		At least 6 months (if sections are completed consistently)

Award Level	Section	Minimum Time Required
Gold	Volunteering	12 months (18 months if Silver not completed)
	Physical	6 or 12 months*
	Skills	6 or 12 months*
	Expedition	Practice – 3 Days and 2 Nights Assessed – 4 Days and 3 Nights
	Residential	5 days, 4 nights (away from home, with people unknown to the participant)
Total Duration		At least 12 months (if Silver was completed) or 18 months (if starting at Gold level)

Notes:

Participants must choose either Physical or Skills to do for 12 months, while the other is done for 6 months.
If the participant did not complete Silver, they must extend their Volunteering to 18 months instead of 12.
The Residential section is unique to Gold and requires participants to complete a shared experience away from home, such as a course, project, or adventure with people they don’t already know.

Gold level is the most challenging but also the most rewarding, as it demonstrates a high level of commitment, resilience, and leadership.

How do I track my Progress for Each section – using the eDofE Portal?

The eDofE portal is the official online platform for participants of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) to record, track, and manage their progress. Designed to streamline the award process, eDofE allows participants to log their activities, upload evidence, and submit their sections for approval—all in one place.

The portal provides an easy-to-use system for:

Setting up activities for Volunteering, Physical, Skills, Expedition, and Residential (Gold level only).
Logging progress by uploading photos, videos, or written reports.
Submitting evidence for approval from Assessors and DofE Leaders.
Tracking completion of each section to ensure steady progress.
Receiving official approval once all sections are completed.

Participants use it to document their activities and track progress.

Assessors provide reports verifying the completion of activities.

DofE Leaders review and approve sections before the award is finalised.

With eDofE, participants can stay organised, motivated, and on track to successfully complete their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Useful Web Links:

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award website

eDofE Web Portal

Expedition Resources for Participants

How to Submit an Assessor's Report