Duke of Edinburgh's Award

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is the world’s leading youth achievement award. It nationally gives millions of 14 to 24-year-olds the opportunity to be the very best they can be. 

DofE students are viewed as resilient, willing to push outside their comfort zone and exceptionally committed. The benefits of completion reach far beyond the experiences they obtain whilst completing the award.

Since it began in 1956, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has been inspiring, guiding and supporting young people in their self-development and recognising their achievements.  

Duke Of Edinburgh's Award Levels

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a personal programme of activities that students can complete at three levels:  

  • Bronze (for students aged 14 and older – Year 10 and above) 
  • Silver (for students aged 15 and older – Year 11 and above) 
  • Gold (for students aged 16 and older – Year 12 and above)

Queen Ethelburga’s offers the award at all three levels. Students can progress through each award or commence the Silver awards as direct entrants (subject to a greater volunteering commitment). Students achieve the Bronze and Silver Awards by completing a personal programme of activities in four sections. Whereas the Gold Award requires students to complete five sections.  

The sections are: 

  1. Volunteering: Students give time to support the school or wider community, e.g. visiting a retirement home or helping sports day for younger children. 
  2. Skill: Students broaden their knowledge and skills, e.g. learning to play a new musical instrument. 
  3. Physical: Students carry out a physical activity, e.g. football, swimming, tennis, netball, hockey, gymnastics
  4. Expedition: Students plan and complete a 2 or 4-day walking expedition where they carry their equipment, cook meals and camp overnight for 1-3 nights (depending on the award level).  
  5. Residential (Gold only): Students spend a minimum of 4 days away from home to carry out physical or volunteering activities with people they have not met before. For example, they spend the residential with students from another school. 

Get Involved

Participating in the Duke of Edinburgh Award can be an incredibly enriching adventure. On the way, students will do their own exciting and challenging activities to help them reach their full potential.  

We strongly encourage students to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award at QE, as the benefits reach far beyond their positive experiences whilst completing the award. In addition, future employers, colleges and universities value the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award very highly and recognise an Award holder as hard-working, adventurous and exceptionally committed. 

If you have any queries about our Duke of Edinburgh Award, please get in touch with QEDofE@qe.org