The Duke of Edinburgh's Award

Buxton School has been a licenced operating centre of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme (DofE) since 2013. This means that we can manage the scheme and award participants upon completion.

Programmes take between one to four years to complete, and they must be completed by the participant’s twenty-fifth birthday. With assistance from adult Leaders, participants select and set objectives in each of the following areas:

• Volunteering: undertaking service to individuals or the community.
• Physical: improving in an area of sport, dance or fitness activities.
• Skills: developing practical and social skills and personal interests.
• Expedition: planning, training for and completion of an adventurous journey in the UK or abroad.
• At Gold level, participants must do an additional fifth Residential section, which involves staying and working away from home for five days, doing a shared activity.

To achieve an award, the participant must work on each section for a minimum period of time and must be monitored and assessed by someone with knowledge of the chosen activities.

Each progressive level demands more time and commitment from participants:

• Bronze 3–6 months
• Silver: 6–9 months; 
• Gold: 12–18 months.

Participants are required to show regular activity and commitment to the award for the duration of their DofE programme, which is usually at least one hour per week.

DofE Enrolment Form