The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme is a programme of practical, cultural and adventurous activities designed to aid the development of young people.
The Fulham Boys School offers pupils in Years 9 – 13 the opportunity to participate in the scheme, as we believe it is an integral part of a pupil’s personal development. The ‘DofE’, as it is colloquially known, has awards at three levels; Bronze, Silver and Gold which are nationally recognised by universities and employers.
The Bronze and Silver Awards have four parts; physical, skill, volunteering and the expedition. The first three provide fantastic opportunities for pupils to be recognised for some of their existing co-curricular activities and also to try new things and contribute to the community. Participants commit an hour of their time once a week, in all three of the physical, skill, and volunteering sections for three to six months. The expedition allows them to develop the ability to work as a team; they must plan an overnight excursion, carrying food and camping equipment and execute that plan without outside assistance, dealing with problems as they arise. Preparing for the expedition and successfully completing it gives pupils real confidence in their ability to be independent and most pupils have a great time too!
Approximately 50% of pupils in Year 9 sign up to take the Bronze award with the great majority completing within 12 months. Pupils can start the Silver award in Year 10, either after completing their Bronze Award, or direct Silver entry. The elements are similar to the Bronze except that the level of commitment is slightly greater. In 2021/22 The Fulham Boys School were approved to offer the Gold Award programme. This is open to pupils who are 16 and above, whether they have completed the earlier levels or are joining the programme directly at Gold Level.
Achieving an Award gives the boys the skills, confidence and edge over others when applying for college, university or a job. Beyond their academic achievements, universities want to see evidence of so-called ‘soft skills’ that they have developed through extra-curricular activities, such as communication, commitment, leadership and teamwork. The DofE Award is a fantastic way to demonstrate and evidence these skills in practice.
Find out more about the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
Enrolment for entry into the Award programme at FBS takes place at the beginning of each new academic year.
For more information please contact sportsadmin@fulhamboysschool.org.uk.
July 2021 Duke of Edinburgh Awards Evening
