Delivery


Left: DofE participants from Sandon Meridian Academy on a sponsored rock climb activity.


A slight challenge with a younger cohort seems to be finding opportunities to undertake volunteering but, as Dan told us, “You need to think about new ways of doing things and new avenues. We have expanded our internal volunteering dramatically, with students going in to feeder primary schools to support numeracy sessions with younger pupils and to run sporting activities. This has increased our students’ confidence massively and also really improved transition into Year 7.”


The commitment


It’s also really important to set expectations from the start. Slightly younger participants may need a bit more hand holding in terms of planning their programme. Be clear from the word go about what the commitments are.


For example, the LOs with the best take-up and completion rates seem to be the ones where there is a very clear calendar of dates and events and these are clearly communicated before the young people even enrol. Young people should drive their own programme but, to do that, they need to have clear objectives in mind. Perhaps you could publish in advance the date for your expected presentation evening at the end, so that young people and their parents/guardians are clear of the expected DofE journey and the key milestones.


Young people like boundaries, so be really up front about the commitment and what they are signing up for. Don’t surprise people with dates at short notice.


Stroud High School in Gloucestershire has seen a massive take-up by moving Bronze into Year 9. As a result around 95% of the year group have enrolled. This has also paid dividends with progression onto Silver, with about 60% of the Bronze achievers now enrolled onto a Silver programme.


DofE Manager Nadine Moore told us “It’s been fab. Year 9s are much better now at following direction and meeting deadlines, which has had a major impact on our completion rates and the transfer onto Silver. Making this change has increased the profile of DofE massively and made it a whole school thing.”


What you could do


Early on in the school year, you could hold a parents’/ guardians’ meeting so that everyone understands what the DofE is all about and how families can support the young person through their participation.


DofE Magazine Issue 27: SUMMER 2017


There will be fewer random phone calls and emails in due course if everyone understands from the start what is involved and how they can all support the young people and yourselves in encouraging completion.


Nadine also told us that they have begun promoting the DofE earlier in the school year so that Bronze can be completed by the end of Year 9 and Silver can be completed by the end of Year 10, thus not impacting upon Year 11 and the extra stresses of final exams like GCSEs and Nationals.


One of the hopes of catching young people’s interest earlier is that it will light a spark inside them to continue to Silver and Gold. To that end you need to also think about what additional resources you may need to put into these levels of the DofE in due course.


At Bristol Free School they historically had very little interest in progression beyond Bronze but, by moving Bronze into Year 9, they have managed to enrol 21 young people for Silver and 11 young people for Gold – so be prepared!


An added bonus is that by this stage young people can self-manage their DofE programme much more independently due to their previous participation at Bronze and Silver, so hopefully less adult input would be required.


The early age range trial continues until October 2017, when a full report will be presented to The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. If you have any examples of good practice please send them to me at dean.jefferys@DofE.org.


Bronze participants from Bristol Free School take shelter during their expedition training.


Take a look at the DofE’s Schools’ Calendar to help you plan your DofE school year.: DofE.org/schools.


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