FAQs

Q. 1) If my physical sport club stops running during my DofE assignment then could I continue the 3 or 6 months with a different sport and assessor. 

This is not ideal, as the activity is meant to be sustained over a period of time. However, in exceptional circumstances, we would need to seek approval from the awarding body. 

Q. 2) What is the timeframe for completing the volunteering work, skills and physical activities? When does the 3 or 6 months start and when does it end? 

You need to complete all 3 of your sections ( 2 x 3 months and 1 x 6 months) by June 6th 2026

Q. 3) For the skills section, I want to develop my culinary (cooking) skills at home. How would I evidence this? 

This is a great idea! To help you evidence this section, you should complete the slides here. You will need an assessor. Ms Jesson, Ms Potenza or Mr Norris can assess you if you present them with your slides. 

Q. 4) When do we need to start volunteer work, skill and physical activities? 

You need to start your 6 month one by end of October really.  Some of you may need a DofE number which you will get once we have registered you on the online DofE platform. This will be done by October 8th. You can start the others in Jan if you want to but the sooner you start the better!

Q. 5) I would like to develop my fitness through running. How would I evidence this?

You could download the 'Couch to 5K' app and work through this program. You could screen shot the map of your route at the end of each session (the app shows you a map at the end) and you could keep a diary on google slides of each session you ran, the date, how long it took you, how far you went in KM, and how you felt doing it (about 150 words). You would then present this diary, with the screen shots attached, to a PE teacher to assess. You would need to ask a member of the PE team to agree to assess you first. You could also do some park runs! This would be a great goal to have! Your first goal could be completing one without walking, or to complete it in a certain time (with or without walking in between). You can go to the national 'Park run website' and sign up for a bar code which means that they will track your time. This would be proof that you completed the park run. Add it to your diary! 

Q. 6) It it okay to give proof of something you did for or with your family in the skills section to someone you know who isn’t family in order for them to sign for you? 

Yes. 

Q. 7) Are we allowed to purposefully do two hours a week instead of one in order to have the next week free? 

While you can complete two hours per week, it would only count as one session. The idea is to maintain a sustained activity over a 3- or 6-month period. Exceptions are made for extended sessions, such as surfing or skiing, but regular activities must average at least one hour per week over the three- or six-month period. 

Q.8)If an after school sports club is called off by the teachers, will you have to make up for this by finding another thing to do instead? 

Yes. 

Q. 9) For my physical section, I’m doing Gym work. Different gym instructors at my gym work different days of the week so what should I do for their contact information? 

Different instructors can sign off each week’s evidence, but you need to select one assessor who will review all the evidence and sign off the entire section. Be sure to collect this person’s details. 

Q. 10) Does my fitness need to have a set statistic that I work towards?  I was just thinking of improving my left foot each week at football training (maybe only using my left foot for drills) and this is quite hard to measure?

You need to have a clear goal that you are working towards in your skills and fitness sections. You need to be able to talk about how you have improved X technique and to what extent. You don't need to measure everything with a number, it could be that you talk about how you have developed your 'left foot' and what you are now able to do in comparison to when you started. 

Q.11) 1) For the ‘physical’ element of DofE are we allowed to do different sports (for example one week hockey and the next tennis) in case we aren’t able to attend the specific sport every week? 

Yes, the title of your activity would be "Games," and in each week’s evidence, you should specify which game you participated in for that week. 

Q.12) Is it appropriate to swap your chosen 6 months activity with a three month activity if you enjoy one more than the other and didn’t think you would?

Yes. You can swap it. 

Q13) Do I need to upload my paper log each week or just at the end of the 3/6 months?

Just add your paper logs at the end. No need to update every week.

Q14) How to I evidence my skills section for attending the gym?

Get a gym instructor to sign your paper based evidence log. It can be a different one each time. Then do a slide show on your goals and progress - similar to the template that I have provided for those doing cooking as a skill. A PE teacher from WPSA can be your assessor then. 

Q15) Can I split my skills up into 2 skills? 

No. It must be the same skill for the whole time. Eg you can't learn Italian for 2 months and then learn the piano for the final month.

Q16) Can I use skiing as my physical or skill and if so, how do I evidence this?

Yes you can use skiing as your physical activity or skill but this should only be for the '3 month period' not the '6 month period'. The hours that you Ski do contribute to the overall hours needed. Any practice that you do also contribute eg. dry slope practice and/or gym training/running to improve fitness etc to develop your skiing ability. Mr Brookland has assessed people's DofE skiing evidence before and so it is worth asking him if he will be your assessor. Any gym instructor and ski instructor can sign your evidence. Pictures of you doign the activity can supplement your hours logs too.