Fequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers from parents and students when starting the Duke of Edinburgh Award
If you have a question you would like answered please contact Mr Beckett at Coombe Boys or Mr Wozniak at Coombe Girls. Alternatively used this form - DofE Q&A Form
What is DofE?
DofE is short for 'The Duke of Edinburgh Award'. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award helps young people build life-long belief in themselves, supporting them to take on their own challenge. For more info: https://www.dofe.org/
Who is responsible for completing students DofE award?
Students are responsible for completing each section of their award. DofE Coordinators will give guidance and information mainly through google classroom. It is the students responsibility to keep up to date with this and speak to the coordinator if they have any questions. Coordinators will not be chasing and seeking individuals for their evidence and assessor reports.
What does the DofE Award consist of?
A lot of people associate DofE with the expedition element. There are also 3 other activities that must be completed before the award is presented. These are volunteering in the community, doing something physical and learning a skill.
What do I need to do for Bronze?
Volunteering 3 months, Physical 3 months, Skills 3 months
Plus a further 3 months in volunteering, physical or skills section..
Each activity is one for 1 hour each week. You cannot complete a section faster by doing two hours of activities in a week.
Expedition - 1 day practice followed by 2 days and 1 night assessed expedition.
Information for Bronze is here: https://sites.google.com/coombe.org.uk/coombe-dofe/home/bronze
What do I need to do for Silver?
Volunteering 6 months
Physical & Skills - One section for 6 months and the other for 3 months.
Plus an extra 6 months in the volunteering, or the longer of the Physical or Skills sections if you haven't got Bronze.
Each activity is one for 1 hour each week. You cannot complete a section faster by doing two hours of activities in a week.
Expedition - 3 days and 2 nights for both the practice and the assessed expeditions.
Information for Silver is here: https://sites.google.com/coombe.org.uk/coombe-dofe/home/silver
How can I do Gold?
Gold DofE is via an external provider. To access Gold you need to be in year 12. If you are interested in completing Gold please speak to Mr Beckett or Miss Crombie
How to enroll
A letter will be sent to parents at the beginning of the academic year. This letter will include full instructions.
Parents will need to complete the registration form which is on the letter. Make sure you follow instructions carefully and complete the correct details in each section. Form asks for both parents and students details.
Students join relevant google classroom. There are different classrooms for girls and boys schools.
Payment of deposit. This is via Arbor.
Note you will not be enrolled until you complete all three. There are limited spaces so make sure you enroll quickly.
How can I check key dates?
Please make sure you check dates before you enroll. These are all provided on the Coombe DofE Website. Go to the relevant Bronze or Silver Pages: https://sites.google.com/coombe.org.uk/coombe-dofe/home
When can I start my activities?
You can start right now. When you enroll we are able to backdate your activities till the 1st of September of the year you enrolled.
How do I log my activities
eDofE is the online system used by students to log their progress through their DofE award. They can access this online via https://edofe.org/ or using an app on their phone. They can also use paper copies of a log sheet to record their weekly activities. More details are here: https://sites.google.com/coombe.org.uk/coombe-dofe/home/edofe
My eDofE login details have not come through?
When your parent completed the Google Registration Form they were asked to enter your email address. This could be your school one or your personal one. This is where DofE would have sent your login details including your username and temporary password. You will be asked to change your password when you login. School do not have any records of your password.
I don't know what activity to choose for volunteering, skills or physical?
The DofE Website has lots of ideas. https://www.dofe.org/do/ideas/ Your coordinators also have lots of ideas too.
How do I know if my activity meets the requirements for volunteering, physical or skills?
Refer to the DofE website or check with your coordinator Mr Beckett or Miss Crombie if you are unsure. Make sure you don't spend 3-12months completing an activity before it has been approved.
How do I check if my activities are approved?
Make sure you check back on eDofE. There is a message tab which your coordinator uses to send you messages if you have done something wrong or left something out.
Who do I select as an assessor?
Assessors cannot be a family member and must be over 18. It is important that they have some knowledge of the activity that you are doing. Some assessors will see you participate in your activity every week such as a football coach. Other assessors (e.g. teachers) may not see you at all doing your activity but will expect evidence such as videos, written reports, a verbal discussion or photos to show you have met your goals. We would expect a teacher to have some knowledge if the activity they are assessing.
How do I provide an assessors report?
We will only approve electronic assessors reports submitted via the DofE website. Paper copies of assessors reports will need to be shown directly to the coordinator by the student as well as uploaded to eDofE with a reason why they have not used the electronic assessors report. This is because we have a lot of errors when providing the written reports. When asking someone to be your assessor make sure they are happy to provide electronic reports via the DofE website.
Where can I find out information about DofE?
For information about the national DofE programme visit their website. https://www.dofe.org
When should I check google classroom?
Check google classroom every week. This is where we share important information throughout the year.
When are the expeditions?
The Coombe DofE website has lots of information including key dates. https://sites.google.com/coombe.org.uk/coombe-dofe
What if I have any other questions?
Mr Beckett and Miss Crombie are available to answer any questions. See them directly or ask a question via google classroom.
Expedition Info
The expedition is a very popular part of the award. It is very challenging but rewarding and enjoyable
Does everyone get to do the expedition?
If you wish to participate in the expedition your Volunteering, Physical and Skills activities must be completed or near completion.
Both the boys and girls school do DofE at the same time and camp on the same site. They are not in mixed walking groups.
Behaviour - 1 strike then out rule. If you do not follow rules or instructions, you get 1 warning. If rules are not followed parents are called and you will be sent home.
If you do not complete your activities or are badly behaved and therefore cannot complete the expedition/award refunds are not provided.
What should I expect?
Students walk in groups of between 4&7. No mixed sex groups. You can choose your own group members.
You will need to walk for about 6 hours and camp overnight
Your group will need to be able to carry everything needed including shelter, cooking equipment and food.
The whole group will need to navigate using a map and compass
Be prepared and plan early. Get proper fitted bag and shoes asap and get used to using them.
You will need to provide your own equipment other than the tent, cooker, gas, map & compass which school provides.
What facilities are available
Camping on a site with toilets but no toilets or facilities on route
There are no bins other than the campsite. All rubbish must be carried and deposited in bins at the end of the day.