DofE
John Mason School is committed to supporting students in KS4 achieving and engaging with the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. This is a nationally recognised award that challenges students to take part in activities in four areas; Volunteering, Skills, Physical and Expedition. The award tests resilience and resourcefulness, the completion of the award is favourably viewed by employers and college admissions tutors. These skills also are invaluable in meeting the demands of GCSE and A Level exams.
Why do DofE?
Doing DofE is a brilliant way for your young person to discover just how much they are capable of. It gives young people the chance to make new friends, follow their passions, learn new skills, and make a difference in our community. Gaining a DofE Award is a great way to impress employers too.
It is also non-competitive and a powerful way for every young person to build belief in themselves, whatever their background, interests, and abilities.
How it works
There are three levels of DofE Award – Bronze, Silver, and Gold. To achieve the awards, your child will need to complete four sections – Volunteering, Physical, Skills and the Expedition (a fifth section at Gold level being the Residential).
Students can choose what they would like to do for the first three sections, and we will provide all the guidance and support they need. The Expedition involves spending time away in the countryside, and again we will make sure that our young people are fully prepared for it.
Year 10 - The Bronze Award
Volunteering –Students will need to maintain commitment to a volunteering activity for 1 hour per week for a period of 3 to 6 months to meet the requirements of the Award.
Skills – Students will be working with a Money Management/Awareness Course during tutor time. They will be given either instruction or practice time for one session a fortnight so that they can meet the requirement of showing progress. They need to sustain involvement in this for a period of 6 months.
Physical – They need to commit to a chosen activity for 1 hour per week for a period of 3 to 6 months.
Expedition – Students will receive training on the In School Training Day. They will receive instruction in all skill areas needed to undertake a two-day, self-sufficient assessed camping expedition. They will attend a set of two day supervised expedition for Training and Assessment. Training for all students will be a compulsory part of the Programme.
By April, all students taking part in the Bronze Award should have completed the first three parts of the award.
Year 11 - The Silver Award
Volunteering – Students will need to maintain commitment to a volunteering activity for 1 hour per week for a period of 6 months to meet the requirements of the Award.
Skills – Students will need to maintain commitment to a skills activity for 1 hour per week for a period of 3 or 6 months to meet the requirements of the Award.
Physical – They need to commit to a chosen activity for 1 hour per week for a period of 3 or 6 months.
Expedition – Students will receive training on the In School Training Day. They will receive instruction in all skill areas needed to undertake a three-day, self-sufficient assessed camping expedition. They will attend a set of three day supervised expedition for Practice and Assessment. Training for all students will be a compulsory part of the Programme.
By May, all students taking part in the Silver Award should have completed the first three parts of the award.
Year 12 - The Gold Award
Volunteering – Students may use weekly supervision sessions to plan for the delivery of supportive sessions for students in years 7-9. Students will need to maintain commitment to the delivery of this club for a period of at least 12 months to meet the requirements of the award. Students will need to maintain commitment to a volunteering activity for 1 hour per week for a period of 12 months to meet the requirements of the Award.
Skills – Students will be given the choice of skills to take part in during enrichment time. They will be given either instruction or practice time for two sessions a fortnight so that they can meet the requirement of showing progress. They need to sustain involvement in this for a period of 6 or 12 months. Students will need to maintain commitment to a skills activity for 1 hour per week for a period of 6 or 12 months to meet the requirements of the Award.
Physical – Students may use the Enrichment Programme to take part in a relevant physical activity. They need to commit to a chosen activity for 1 hour per week for a period of 6 or 12 months.
Expedition – The delivery of the expedition element is shared between John Mason School and a private company with a proven record of accomplishment in expedition delivery. The expedition will be in canoes. Students will receive training for the expedition element on the In School Training Day. They will receive instruction in all skill areas needed to undertake a four-day, self-sufficient assessed canoe expedition. They will attend a set of four day supervised expedition for Practice and Assessment. Training for all students will be a compulsory part of the Programme.
Residential – Students are required to arrange a 5 day, 4 nights residential experience for themselves. They will receive full advice and guidance on this aspect, which can range from supporting their old primary school in a trip, to archaeological digs, to participation in the NCS program.