To achieve a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award takes a lot of time, commitment and energy. Everyone who completes an Award will have participated in a series of worthwhile, different, challenging and hopefully enjoyable experiences.

Silver Awards take between 6 and 12 months to complete, and students will have given some of their time for the benefit of others in their Volunteering Section, they will have taken part in regular exercise for their Physical Section, and will have developed skills outside of their school curriculum for their Skill Section.

They will also have passed the Expedition Section, when they will have completed a multi-day journey through the countryside with a small group of friends in a self-sufficient and unaccompanied manner. Silver certificates will be presented later in the year.

Achieving a Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award will take over 12 months and on top of the requirements at Silver, each section requires a longer timeframe, the Expedition Section is in more adventurous countryside, and there is the additional Residential Section, which focuses on working with people you’ve never met before. Gold DofE Awards are seen as fantastic achievements and students who complete Gold Awards will receive their certificates at Buckingham Palace later in the year. Gaining a DofE Award really is a great achievement.