Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme

The incredibly popular Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme is offered to students in Year 9 and above, leading to the achievement of an award that is recognised by universities and employers alike. Whether you are adventurous, caring, sporty, creative, … the DofE is for you! The awards give participants increased recognition for extra-curricular activities in which they are already involved as well as offering them encouragement and support in trying out new ones.

There are four (five at Gold) sections that you get the chance to complete, allowing you to plan your own personal and unique journey towards gaining each Award. Examples of activities for each section are given below.

At Larkmead School, you can start working towards your Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award in Year 9. Students can work towards their Silver Award in Year 10 and our sixth form students get the opportunity to complete their Gold Award in Year 12 and 13.

For any further information about the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme please contact Mr Kirkham.

Links:

The DofE website: https://www.dofe.org/

Ideas for your Skill

The Skills section is all about developing practical and social skills and personal interests. By choosing to develop a particular skill you are not only developing a new talent but you will also boost your self-esteem, develop practical and social skills and learn how to set and rise to a challenge. If this isn’t enough, it should also be good fun too!

From podcasting to playing a musical instrument, fine art to website design, there’s an endless list of the types of skills you can do, so have a chat with a teacher to find out what you could do!

A small selection of possible skills is given below. More examples are available from the DofE website https://www.dofe.org/do/ideas/ but anything is possible - just talk to someone about your idea.

App design
Astronomy
Astronomy
Bird watching
Blogging
Cake decoration
Candle-making
Cards (i.e. bridge)
Chemistry
Chess
Church bell ringing
Circus skills
Coding
Collections, studies & surveys
Conjuring & magic
Conservation
Cookery
Cycle maintenance
DJing
Dog training & handling
Drawing
Egg decorating
Fashion
Film & video making
First aid
Gardening
Jewellery making
Kite construction & flying
Knitting
Language skills
Lettering & calligraphy
Model construction
Music
Painting & design
Photography
Playing a musical instrument
Public speaking and debating
Reading
Rocket making
Singing
Snooker, pool & billiards
Speech & drama
Sports officiating
Theatre appreciation
Vlogging
War games
Writing
Young Enterprise

Ideas for your Physical

Through the Physical section you should achieve a greater physical fitness through participation and improvement in physical activity. It’s sure to make you feel healthier and you’ll have fun along the way!

From hockey to dance, rock climbing to swimming, wheelchair basketball to yoga – almost any dance, sport or fitness activity can count. You can join a team or do it on your own, concentrate on something you’re already doing or try something completely different – it’s up to you.

If you are still unsure about what you could do then have a teacher to find out what’s on offer!

A small selection of possible physicals is given below. More examples are available from the DofE website https://www.dofe.org/do/ideas/ but anything is possible - just talk to someone about your idea.

Aerobics
Archery
Athletics
Badminton
Ballet
Basketball
BMX
Boxing
Canoeing
Climbing
Cricket
Cycling
Dancing
Fencing
Fitness
Football
Free running
Golf
Gym
Gymnastics
Hockey
Horse riding
Judo
Karate
Kendo
Mountain biking
Netball
Paintballing
Pilates
Roller skating
Rowing
Rugby
Running
Skateboarding
Swimming
Table tennis
Tennis
Trampolining
Triathlon
Walking
Yoga

Ideas for your Volunteering

Volunteering is all about making a difference to other people’s lives. Getting off your sofa and taking time out to change things for the better can be great fun.

From conservation to youth work to fundraising for your favourite charity or caring for animals, there’s an endless list of the types of projects you can get involved in, so have a chat with a teacher to find out what’s on offer, what needs doing and who needs help!

If you can’t find a project you want to get involved in, why not set up a new one that will help your community? This can be on your own, with a couple of friends or even with your whole DofE group – your DofE Leader can help you do this and may be able to act as your Assessor.

A small selection of possible volunteering activities is given below. More examples are available from the DofE website https://www.dofe.org/do/ideas/ but anything is possible - just talk to someone about your idea.

Animal welfare
Being a volunteer lifeguard
Campaigning
Council representation
Dance leadership
DofE Leadership
Environment
Fundraising
Helping children to read
Helping older people
Helping people with special needs
Leading at a voluntary organisation group (Cubs, etc.)
Litter picking
Music tuition
Preserving waterways
Rural conservation
Serving a faith community
Sports leadership
Tutoring
Working at an animal rescue centre
Working in a charity shop
Young carer
Youth work

Ideas for your Expedition

The expedition is a fantastic experience and always one that participants always remember and recount throughout their lives. The main organisation is done throughthe school and we ensure you have all the relevant training.

At Bronze Level, the expedition is a two-day (one night) adventure in a lowland area. Within your group, you will plan the route, organise your food and ensure your navigation means you don’t get lost. You don’t need to have all the equipment – you can borrow that – but you will have to carry everything you need!

At Silver, the time spent away increases to two nights and at Gold Level, you get the chance to go to more remote areas of the United Kingdom, climb mountains and prove you can be even more self-sufficient. The Gold Expedition is for three nights and four days and might mean you get to visit and camp out in the Welsh mountains.

Ideas for your Residential

To achieve your Gold Award, you need to complete an extra section – the Residential. This involves spending 5 days and 4 nights away from home on a shared activity with people you’ve never met before.

It’s a big, exciting and very fulfilling experience. It may be that you want to build on a talent you’ve developed in another section, learn something completely new on an intensive course or do something to help others. From learning to snowboard in Scotland to helping at a children’s camp, from working with the National Trust to helping on an urban recycling project, or from learning French in Paris to sailing a tall ship, there are loads of exciting possibilities to find the activity that’s just right for you.

The programme ideas listed below are thinking prompts and we cannot guarantee that these programmes are actively run by providers. More examples are available from the DofE website https://www.dofe.org/do/ideas/ but anything is possible - just talk to someone about your idea.

Being a leader at a UK based holiday camp for disadvantaged young people
Joining a National Trust working holiday and join different conservation projects in various locations across the UK
Joining a tree planting project with your local environment trust
Learning to write and produce music and putting on a show
Taking part in a bushcraft residential
Taking part in a Field Studies course learning about biodiversity and conservation
Taking part in a sport based residential developing your basketball skills
Taking part in an astronomy course, learning about constellations, black holes and solar systems
Taking part in multi-faith residential, studying different religions
Undertaking a cookery course
Volunteering on a YHA residential camp

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