Gold Award
Gold DofE Award
The Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award is offered in Y12 at AGS.
What is involved?
- There is a massive choice of activities that count towards a DofE programme
- Activities could be something that you are already doing or completely new
- All activities must be outside of normal school curriculum. Lunch and after school clubs and activities are fine
- The activity should be done for approximately an hour a week
- Participants need to have an assessor for each section of the award who has expertise or knowledge in the activity, but cannot be a relative
Timescale
The sections must be undertaken once a week. You must spend 12 months on the Volunteering section. For the Physical and Skills section, you must spend 12 months on one and 6 months on the other. If you did not do their Silver Award, you are required to do a further 6 months on either of the activities you did for 12 months.
Arranging Your Expedition
We currently do not offer an our own expedition programme at AGS. You are encouraged to arrange your own expedition by booking on to an open expedition.
Open Expeditions
Open expeditions are run by Approved Activity Providers and can be attended by anyone. This allows you the choice of a range of locations and modes of transport. Expeditions will need to be booked directly with the provider and you will need to arrange a convenient date. This can be done individually or in groups of 4-7. If this is during school time, a letter will need to be sent to school requesting absence.
Many of the expeditions will provide equipment such as tents, stoves etc. however, all of the providers do not include the cost of transport to the expedition or food for the expedition.
Expeditions can be found on the DofE Opportunity Finder Website
Please have a look at the various AAP’s (Approved Activity Providers) on this list and see what dates and value they can offer you. You can get together with your friends and book together if you would like.
Arranging your Residential
If you’re going for your Gold DofE Award, you need to complete an additional Residential section. You can choose from a range of residential activities – from helping at a National Trust site in the UK to working with children in India.
You’ll spend five days and four nights taking part in a shared, worthwhile activity with people you’ve never met before. A DofE residential will boost your independence and confidence and is a great way to leave a positive footprint on your life and other people’s.
You will need to arrange your residential activity yourself so start thinking of ideas. The programme ideas document here may help.
You can find a range of residential activities on the DofE Opportunity Finder Website.
You should try to arrange your residential so it is in the holidays but if the only dates available are during school time, a letter will need to be sent to school requesting absence.