The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Quick Links for Participants
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) gives young people aged 14–24 the chance to challenge themselves, discover new talents, and develop skills for life. It’s about having fun, making friends, and gaining experiences that will stay with you forever — all while building resilience and confidence in line with our school values.
At Sir Thomas Fremantle School, we proudly offer students the opportunity to take part in the Bronze Award (Year 9) and the Silver Award (Year 10). Each level is designed to inspire adventure, independence, and personal growth.
Each level of the DofE Award involves completing four sections:
Volunteering – Help others and contribute to your community, developing empathy and social responsibility.
Physical – Take part in a sport, dance, or fitness activity to improve your health, stamina, and wellbeing.
Skills – Learn something new or enhance an existing talent, building creativity and confidence.
Expedition – Plan, train for, and complete an adventurous journey as part of a team, developing teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
At Silver level, participants take on longer and more challenging activities, building on the experience gained at Bronze.
Completing a DofE Award offers a wide range of benefits that extend well beyond school life. Students will:
Build confidence and independence
Develop teamwork, communication, and leadership skills
Strengthen resilience, organisation, and problem-solving abilities
Make lasting friendships and memories
Enhance their CVs, UCAS, and apprenticeship applications
The DofE is highly respected by employers, colleges, and universities as it demonstrates commitment, initiative, and the ability to persevere.
How to get involved
For information on enrolment, costs and key dates, please contact Mr Richardson, DofE Leader at dofe@sirthomasfremantle.org. He will be happy to guide you through the process and answer any questions.
Our expeditions are organised by Action4Youth, a leading youth charity based in Buckinghamshire. They specialise in providing safe, high-quality outdoor learning and adventure experiences that help young people develop confidence, resilience and teamwork.
The Bronze Award practice expedition takes place at The Caldecotte Xperience in Milton Keynes, with the qualifying expedition held in The Chilterns.
The Silver Award practice expedition also takes place at Caldecotte, while the qualifying expedition is held in a different location each year to provide a new and exciting challenge.
“Your DofE shows you have fortitude and the ability to stick to a task, which is recognised by universities and employers alike.”
“There’s something very special about DofE Award holders — their capacity to help others. … The hard work and dedication that you’ve put in counts for so much and sets you up for a very successful future.”
“The DofE is rightly prestigious and the help and support it gives, and the initiative and sense of achievement it encourages, is enormously valuable to young people today.”
Programme Planning & Evidence Resources
Planning your DofE programme is an important first step. These resources will help you choose suitable activities for your Volunteering, Physical, and Skills sections and record all the details your DofE Leader will need.
If you’re unsure what to do, start by exploring the official Programme Ideas List - it’s full of approved activities to inspire you and help you find something that suits your interests and goals. You can use it for inspiration or as a starting point to design your own programme. For more ideas and planning tools, visit DofE.org/do or use the DofE Opportunity Finder.
Once you’ve decided what to do, use the Planner for your Award level to plan your sections and record key information such as start dates, goals, and assessor details. This will make setting up your eDofE account much easier.
Collecting Evidence
Keeping a record of your progress is an important part of your DofE journey. Each section of your Award - Volunteering, Physical, and Skills - needs evidence to show your commitment and achievements.
You can use the Activity Log to record what you do, when you do it, and how long you spend on each activity. Ask your assessor, leader, or instructor to initial your entries as you go to confirm your participation.
In addition to your Activity Log, you can collect other types of evidence, such as:
Photos showing you taking part in your activity
Certificates or awards you’ve achieved
Letters or emails from your assessor confirming your progress
Screenshots or progress records (for example, from fitness apps or online learning platforms)
When your section is complete, you’ll need to upload your evidence to eDofE along with your Assessor’s Report. This helps verify your activity and ensures your section can be approved.
Your completed Activity Log can also be uploaded to eDofE as supporting evidence, alongside any of the items above.
If you’re feeling unsure about any part of the process, don’t worry - help is always available. Mr Richardson, our DofE Leader, is on hand to offer support and guidance at every stage of your DofE journey, from choosing your activities to getting started on eDofE.
Assessment Resources
Each DofE section requires an assessor report. These forms guide both you and your assessor through the process — from setting your goals at the start to writing the final report at the end.
At the start of your section:
Complete your details and give the form to your assessor. It includes guidance to help them understand their role and what they’ll need to record when you finish your section.
At the end of your section:
Ask your assessor to complete the Assessor’s Report section, describing what you achieved and how you developed during your activity. The report can be completed online via eDofE.org/assessor or by filling in the paper form. In both cases, it forms part of the evidence uploaded to your eDofE account.
Use the correct form for your level and section.
These should be shared with your assessor to help them complete your DofE report accurately.
Please note: expedition reports are completed separately by Action4Youth, who manage all practice and qualifying expeditions.
When you’ve completed a section, send the relevant guidance sheet to your assessor as a reminder of what to do. These short guides explain what’s required for each part of the Award and help ensure assessor reports meet DofE expectations.
Each sheet outlines:
What assessors need to do at the start and end of your section
What to include in the report
How to submit the report online via eDofE.org/assessor
If you’re unsure about how to share the forms or guidance sheets, or when your assessor should complete their report, Mr Richardson is always available to offer help and guidance. He can talk you through the process and make sure everything is submitted correctly on eDofE.
Expedition Resources
Preparing for your DofE expedition takes time and planning — the right kit, food, and preparation can make all the difference. The guides below provide essential advice on everything from packing and equipment to staying dry and looking after your feet.
Each guide has been produced by the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award team to help you feel confident, comfortable and ready for your expedition.
If you have any questions about preparing for your expedition or what equipment you’ll need, please speak to Mr Richardson, DofE Leader, or email him at dofe@sirthomasfremantle.org
Expeditions can seem like a big challenge at first, but you’ll be fully supported every step of the way. Mr Richardson is on hand to offer practical advice and reassurance, whether you’re preparing your kit, planning your meals, or just want to know what to expect on the day.