It’s all about engaging, learning something new and getting better … The DofE awards introduce young people to worthwhile leisure activities and voluntary service. It offers a home based opportunity to engage and be inspired in cooking nutritious food from scratch. practising skills to develop in your favourite sport) • Yoga (you could also use YouTube tutorials) • Fitness challenges (e.g. Through the Skills section you can choose to improve on an existing skill or learn something new. There are four sections to complete at Bronze and Silver level and five at Gold. as well as a long list of UAE schools and even some as far afield as Hong Kong. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award was set up in 1956 to help young people from all walks of life navigate the challenging path to adulthood; broadening their life skills and preparing them for their future work or studies. As Covid-19 continues to spread worldwide, the pandemic has affected various parts of the DofE. This means that sports such as rugby or football would not be counted as a skill in this section. You'll need to participate in each activity for an average of an hour a week. It's delivered by a number of licensed providers across the UK: Scouts being one of … For the skills activity young people need to choose an activity that will allow them to prove they have broadened their understanding and increased their expertise in their chosen skill. They want conscientious, trustworthy and driven employees who create positive, can-do, collegial working environments and, at the end of the day, help the company or organisation achieve its objectives. 14-24 year-olds can do a DofE programme at one of three … Duke of Edinburgh Award ... • Sport skills (i.e. Only new participants need to complete a major—that is, all Bronze participants as well as direct entrants at the Silver and Gold levels. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) aims to inspire, guide, support and recognise the achievements of young people. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (here abbreviated to DofE) is an award for 14 - 24 year olds, done all over the world, but mainly based in countries of the Commonwealth. Each award involves helping the community/environment, improving fitness, developing new skills, and planning, training for and completing an expedition or exploration. Designing games should meet the requirements for the Skills section, as this would develop practical skills and involve learning and creativity. While making the grade still very much matters, it is more important than ever to show universities that you have something more than your academic achievements – and the Award is one opportunity to develop ‘soft skills’ to add to your application. Click here for DofE Online. There are three levels: Bronze (14+), Silver (15+) and Gold (16+). With Sharp Shots, students can have a fantastic time fulfilling their three or six-month DofE Silver Award Skills. It's all about giving something a go, learning something and getting better at it, giving yourself a sense of achievement and well-being as a result. could enable a young person to start a Bronze or Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme, giving them the opportunity to develop invaluable skills for education, work and life £22. An opportunity to discover new interests and talents. Learn more about what is needed or find opportunities to get started. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is all about getting out there, having fun, and self-development. This term, more that 2500 school children across Dubai will embark on their Junior Duke Awards. - Azeeza R., Gold Award Achiever. By creating opportunities for young people to develop skills, get physically active, give service and experience adventure, the Award can play a critical role in their development. We are the only approved Duke of Edinburgh Award photography skills provider with a licence to assess and have taught many DofE students since 2015. Discover More . We are delighted to share our BRILLIANT BAKING eCourse. All those experiences have equipped you with additional skills that will help you throughout your personal and professional life – you developed soft skills. But, more importantly it builds the skills to equip students for life and work. Taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award is a life-changing experience. Skills Activity Ideas . Take me to... Volunteering Physical Skills. I met with Dawn at home in Scotland late last year and we got to work adapting the programme for our unique UAE context right away. For my final project I used a wooden block print and a leaf to design a scarf. We spoke to Rachael to find out why she felt it important that her school introduce the awards to the UAE. Duke of edinburgh cookery skills ecourses. There are three levels: Bronze (14+), Silver (15+) and Gold (16+). It allows students to be active and experience adventure, whilst making a significant difference in their communities. Enables participants to develop their talents, broaden their abilities, increase their self-confidence and improve their employability. Award Rule of Thumb: If you think more than you sweat, it's a skill! The Junior Duke Awards were born of the premise that life has simply become so busy that many parents do not have the time to allow their young children to acquire basic life skills. Whatever you chose to do for your Award, no doubt you had fun, challenged yourself, and experienced adventure and growth. "Using the Award framework and with the support of adult volunteers, young people develop their own bespoke programme, as they work towards achieving the internationally recognised Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. This extra-curricular activity for teenagers and young adults involves plenty of effort, time (and sweat) at a time when students are studying hard for GCSEs and A Levels – so why do it? The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is a voluntary, non-competitive and flexible programme of cultural and adventurous activities for all young people aged between 14 and 25 years old, whatever their background or ability. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (commonly abbreviated DofE) is a youth awards programme founded in the United Kingdom in 1956 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, that has since expanded to 144 nations.The awards recognise adolescents and young adults for completing a series of self-improvement exercises modelled on Kurt Hahn's solutions to his "Six Declines of Modern Youth". Do your children attend a UAE school? Stefania will be wr…, Don't know what to do with the kids this Spring Break? For your voluntary service section, you could be helping children to read in libraries, leading a voluntary group, litter picking, or working at an animal rescue centre. Explorer Scouts can also use this programme for the Creative Arts Activity Badge too! There are three levels of the Award you can work towards - bronze, silver, and gold. Or for more inspiration, see the Skills section activities list. Around 25% of A Level students in the UK achieved an A/A* grade in 2019, and in the UAE IB students achieved a high average of 32.80 in the same year. However, they’re especially important in the world of work. From circus skills to marine biology and even egg decorating, the DofE skills section is bustling with new and exciting ways to enhance your learning. cosmetics, nail care), Home Science (e.g. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is unique in the skills that it teaches. Skills section of Duke of Edinburgh's Award is discovering what you’re good at. "It’s been lovely seeing the immediate impact of the programme. To ask about whether an activity qualifies, contact the, Helps stimulate new interests or improve existing ones, Boosts self-esteem and gives young people a sense of achievement and well-being, May possibly lead young people to improved employability through the development of life and vocational skill, Beauty Therapy (e.g. Speaking to WhichSchoolAdvisor.com, Mr Pruett told WhichSchoolAdvisor.com; “The Arcadia Junior Duke programme is a really important initiative for our children, placing personal growth and service to others at the heart of its experience. Building key learning skills such as resilience, problem solving, communication and leadership, will help young people be successful in whichever walk of life they choose”. Due to Covid-19, these courses are exclusively available online and can be attended from the comfort of your home. WhichSchoolAdvisor.com looks at why and how students join the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, we ask if it is that golden ticket to university and how the award has changed due to Covid-19? Why do the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award? Nurturing personal interests. For direct entrants (i.e. On goal-setting in Skill — Textile/fashion design: I chose to learn block-printing, which is a traditional Indian artform. Each award is split into four categories of activities (five categories for gold). And finally, for your adventurous journey section, you will need to plan, train for and complete an unaccompanied, expedition or exploration lasting from two to four days; this can be completed by foot, cycle, canoe or kayak. Participants must still discuss their activity choices with their DofE Leader to ensure they fulfil the time requirements and section objectives. If you have a willingness to give it a go, discover why the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award can give you the edge in the race for university places. Developing practical & social skills. The skills should help the young person to realise their unique potential and value themselves. Yes, it’s an adventure. Giving students from year 10 upwards the opportunity to participate in all three levels Bronze, Silver and Gold. Young Enterprise is an Approved Activity Provider for the skills section of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Life skills. The list of Dubai schools taking part in the Junior Duke awards so far includes Smart Vision School as well as; For founder Dawn Waugh, this international spread of what was to be an ‘in-house’ initiative for her own students has been an unexpected pleasure. “This was something I dreamt up as a project for our school. For each level of The Duke of Edinburgh Award, you must choose Though the Junior Duke Awards were inspired by the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, it must be noted that they are not officially affiliated with the DofE . When I first came across the Junior Duke Awards, I knew right away that it was a natural fit for these goals. You could choose to improve on an existing skill or try something new. "The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a non-formal education and learning framework operating in more than 130 countries and territories around the world, through which young people’s achievements outside of academia are recognised and celebrated. The award sections and levels. 14-24 year-olds can do a DofE programme at one of three progressive levels which, when successfully completed, leads to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. And with each stage lasting from six months up to more than one year, it is a long-term commitment. The four main sections of the international Award programme – Voluntary Service, Physical Recreation, Skills and Adventurous Journey – focus on many different opportunities for personal development. And there are currently more than one million young people worldwide now doing the international version of this award, called the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. That said, Dawn tells us that the idea has been warmly received by those at Duke of Edinburgh HQ, as the DofE Executive Team recognises a real need to engage with children who are even younger that 14. Jack Hesketh, Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Co-ordinator for Horizon International School enthused about the programme’s strengths; “The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award provides opportunities for young people to find their purpose, passion and place in today’s world. The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, GEMS Wellington International School, Dubai, Horizon International School and sister school Horizon English School, Dubai British School and Dubai British School Jumeirah Park, GEMS Founders, GEMS Royal Dubai, GEMS Metropole School and GEMS Wellington School. From the list below begin to pick one or two ideas where you can begin to set a goal and achieve at home. Take our survey and help other parents. We make sure all our students are taught all the necessary photographic techniques to pass their DofE photography skill set. Skills or Service or Physical Recreation) Below is a list of some common skills chosen and the links include … new participants with no previous Award) to Silver or Gold levels, participants need to add 6 months to one section of their choice (i.e. With so many hobbies and interests to choose from, the Skill Section of the Award allows you to explore and discover talents within yourself that you may have only hoped or dreamed about. Service is an important element of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award. The skills section is your opportunity to develop a personal interest and practical skills; you could learn a new skill in the arts, animal care, gardening, fishing, marine biology, first aid, blogging – the list continues and is as varied as it is long. Like all good ideas, the Junior Duke Awards has snowballed…from being an in-house affair at Hutchesons’ Grammar School to now being in action in many UK schools (including Gordonstoun, the very first Duke of Edinburgh school!) To see it travel around the world and be adapted to meet the needs of international students is just incredible”. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award: Skills and Benefits With experience of organising DofE expeditions from the UK to Tanzania, David Mellor; teacher, family blogger, and Ordnance Survey Champion, tells us about the skills and benefits of achieving the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Skills activities list. Having seen the positive impact that the Duke of Edinburgh awards had on older children, Dawn decided to create her own version for primary age children…enter Mini Duke and Junior Duke Awards. Soft skills are important in all elements of life, from building strong friendships to managing personal finances. We are delighted to be able to support DofE participants across the UK with our home study cookery skills courses. You can choose 1 of Voluntary Service, Skills or Physical Recreation as your major. Locations – Surrey, London & Brighton. We knew what strutting like a peacock meant, it meant T.— he was so proud of himself. For example, anyone who is unable to volunteer with an organisation outside their home or online can now volunteer from home for family members, and there is the option of completing a Virtual Bronze Exploration (VBE) that can be completed from home. In our first year, 230 children from our primary campus have enrolled and we expect each student to blossom into potential Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award recipients in the future as they graduate to the International Award in the Secondary School”. Only one skill can be selected to be practiced consistently for the duration of the Award level & the activity requires a clear goal and suitable Assessor; The activity must not be a physical activity-- for example, cycling would count towards the Physical Recreation section, however, one could choose to learn about bike maintenance as their skill A school activity that is not done for credit can also count One passive skill is chosen to practice for the duration of the Award level. Skills worked on at school can count as long as substantial extra-curricular effort is made in addition to the course requirements. The Skills Section provides the opportunity for a Participant to either improve on an existing skill, or to try something new. Then why not let WhichSchoolAdvis…, New post-16 pathways are on the horizon for Repton School Dubai students as the school an…, In the latest episode of The School Show podcast, Jenny Mollon, our Senior Editor, …. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (commonly abbreviated DofE) is a youth awards programme founded in the United Kingdom in 1956 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, that has since expanded to 144 nations.The awards recognise adolescents and young adults for completing a series of self-improvement exercises modelled on Kurt Hahn's solutions to his "Six Declines of Modern Youth". food & nutrition, family studies), © The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Canada 2021. Cookery. Stay connected with the Duke of Ed by signing up for our e-newsletter, This list is a guide of common activities only. To be awarded the bronze, silver or gold level, an individual must develop self-motivation, perseverance and organizational skills. From the list below begin to pick one or two ideas where you can begin to set a goal and achieve at home. The Physical section of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award is a chance for you to focus on your health and fitness and have fun along the way. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) is an awards programme which gives young people the chance to make friends, have fun and build confidence in an empowering, exciting and non-competitive learning environment. iDEA and The Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Spark4Kids are an Approved Activity Provider (AAP) for the Duke of Edinburgh Award (Skills Section), and we offer computer coding and touch-typing courses for DofE participants. "The Junior Duke has also got the whole of our school staff involved, which for a school really focussed on community like ours is just great. Duke of Edinburgh's International Award: What's In It for You? Mr Khurram, one of security team, has taken great pride in helping the children tick off the task of learning to fix a puncture on their bikes! Don’t worry though – there are plenty of fun alternatives that do count towards completing this area of your award. To be awarded the bronze, silver or gold level, an individual must develop self-motivation, perseverance and organizational skills. It requires a keen eye and a great deal of patience. The Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award skills section requires at least three months, however this can be extended to six months of skills pending how a student has scheduled other DofE activities – please see DofE website for more info. Below are loads of ideas of ways you can do your Skills section at home or remotely. Employers hugely value candidates who are able to demonstrate that they have these skills that make them ‘work-ready’. Yes, … The Award encourages young people to learn new skills, get physically active, volunteer within their communities and discover a sense of adventure outside the classroom. There are three progressive levels which, when successfully completed, lead to an internationally recognised Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. Do you want to be pushed out of your comfort zone, go on amazing adventures, or develop strong leadership and team building skills? Named after Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is an activity programme for 14 to 24-year-olds. The Warhammer Skills Development Programme provides easy to use and structured support for the skills section of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award or any Scouting Top Award. Using iDEA for DofE Skills Section. *A major is an award section for which you have to complete an extra 3 to 6 months of activity (the length of time depends on your award level). Choosing which skill to learn for your Duke of Edinburgh’s Award can be a difficult task, as there is a vast amount of potential skills to choose from. Cooking is one of many life skills children are tasked with for the Junior Duke Awards. Giles Pruett, Executive Principal at Arcadia School is happy that Junior Duke Awards has placed personal growth and service to others high on the agenda at his school. There are currently temporary changes to the Award that make it easier for students to continue with their journey during these challenging times. Gold participants also complete the Gold Residential Project, which takes place over a period of at least four nights and five consecutive days; this could be a residential language course, youth camp overseas, voluntary work with national parks, youth parliaments, sports coaching, or being a crew member on a tall ship. Join a Virtual Orchestra ; Take an art class online, Check our Free art lessons for kids and adults by Youtuber Wild Free and Crafty ; Learn a new language. Cast aside those images you see of students weighed down with backpacks scaling a mountain in the rain – the Award is much more of a gradual climb than a race to the top. Register Your Interest . This week’s Unipod is a bumper edition aimed at aspiring medical students to …, Dubai's school regulator has announced that there will be no fee increases permitted for …, ADEK rated ‘outstanding’ Raha International School has expanded into a seco…, Abu Dhabi’s education regulator, ADEK, has confirmed that no fee increases will be…, Stefania Cioban is a Year 13 student at GEMS FirstPoint school. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (here abbreviated to DofE) is an award for 14 - 24 year olds, done all over the world, but mainly based in countries of the Commonwealth. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is a voluntary, non-competitive and flexible programme of cultural and adventurous activities for all young people aged between 14 and 25 … Since our first contact with the Junior Duke Awards team, we’ve discovered many more UAE schools either already hard at work on their Junior Duke Awards or about to begin the programme. (And, yes, it’s a chance to escape the parents for a weekend!) "The Junior Duke Awards really couldn’t have been more positive for us and I’m  happy to see the awards spreading across UAE schools”. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is the world's leading youth achievement award, with over 438,000 young people currently doing their DofE in the UK. There are stories of students who didn’t get the grades they expected for their A Levels but were still offered their university place because of their passion, skills and commitment shown in the Award. Duke of Edinburgh Award. WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE? The Duke of Edinburgh Award is unique in the skills that it teaches. Skills. Service is an important element of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award. Get ready to raise the heartbeat and break out a sweat for the physical recreation section, where you can choose any sport, dance or fitness activity, from archery to windsurfing, caving to tap dancing. Skills Activity Ideas . could pay for a young people to start their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award journey, the highest level of the DofE and that requiring the most commitment £29. The Award Mission and Guiding Principles. What is the DofE all about? A fun time with friends. As with the other Sections of the Award, a level of commitment is required over time to progress a skill. What counts as a skills activity? Spark4Kids are an Approved Activity Provider (AAP) for the Duke of Edinburgh Award (Skills Section), and we offer computer coding and touch-typing courses for DofE participants. What’s more, with the advent of the Duke of Edinburgh Award inspired ‘Junior Duke’ programme, very young children can begin the confidence building journey that is acquiring life skill and cultural awareness. Participants are required to choose an activity that will allow them to prove they have broadened their understanding and increased ​their expertise in their chosen skill. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is well established now at Cardinal Newman Catholic School. About the programme. A recognised mark of achievement; respected by many employers. It is ideal for any young person interested in learning to cook as a skill, whether it is just for fun or as part of the DofE award. Skills section activities should improve self-esteem and confidence, develop practical and social skills, develop organisational skills, sharpen research skills and demonstrate how to set and rise to a challenge. It doesn’t matter which level iDEA badges you’re completing, or how many you do, what is important is that the leader agrees on the Skill activity and can verify that you have spent enough time doing it on a regular basis. Guided principles of the award. Due to Covid-19, these courses are exclusively available online and can be attended from the comfort of your home. Founded in the UK, the Award is not a compulsory part of the UK National Curriculum, but more than 110,000 students in the UK alone volunteer to take part in the programme every year. WhichSchoolAdvisor's annual school survey. Though the Junior Duke Awards were inspired by the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, it must be noted that they are not officially affiliated with the DofE . DofE Physical. Rachael Wilding, Acting-Principal at Smart Vision School in Dubai was the first to bring the awards to the region. “At Smart Vision School we hope to foster both life skills and cultural awareness in our students. However, alongside a skill, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has two other aspects to complete: Volunteering and Physical. We all will recognise the feeling that it’s simply easier and quicker to tie a child’s shoelaces for them rather than allow them time to struggle on and get it right for themselves! The chosen skill can be something new or the continued development of a previous skill. That said, Dawn tells us that the idea has been warmly received by those at Duke of Edinburgh HQ, as the DofE Executive Team recognises a real need to engage with children who are even younger that 14. The Duke Edinburgh’s International Award is an internationally recognized program for young people, building their skills to equip them for life and work. A great deal of critical thinking was required of me to find success. Around 25% of A Level students in the UK achieved an A/A* grade in 2019, and in the UAE IB students achieved a high average of 32.80 in the same year. "Non-formal education and learning plays a role in the development of skills such as resilience, confidence and communication and can help young people find their purpose, passion and place in the world.”. We’ve had Emirati families visiting the Falcon Rescue Centre for the cultural awareness element of the awards and reporting back that they hadn’t previously known it was there! Through the Skills section you can develop your personal interests as well as your practical and social skills. Universities and employers are looking for a strong combination of leadership and teamworking skills – and the Award allows students to achieve this in one go. The Junior Duke Awards are the brainchild of Dawn Waugh, a teacher at Hutchesons' Grammar School in Scotland. Participants may choose to either improve on an existing skill, or try something new. We’ve had other families tell us that the Moral Education challenge part of the award has meant they have become friends with their neighbours in way they hadn’t been before. A tool to develop essential skills for life and work. T. was a 13-year old who was illiterate. Join a Virtual Orchestra ; Take an art class online, Check our Free art lessons for kids and adults by Youtuber Wild Free and Crafty ; Learn a new language. Now more than ever, it is vital that young people have the opportunity to build confidence, develop new and existing skills and discover their potential. He set goals to remedy his illiteracy and within three months was doing what he never believed possible— reading!