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Duke of Edinburgh Award

What is the Duke of Edinburgh Award?
The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a national accreditation that aims to inspire and develop young people through volunteering, physical activity, and teamwork. Many colleges, universities, and employers highly value the qualification amongst young people.

Each year we offer the DofE Bronze Award for all students in Year 10. When demand is sufficient, we also run the Silver Award for Years 12 & 13.
What is DofE programme?
The Bronze DofE certificate has 3 sections:
  • Volunteering
  • Physical Activity
  • Skill
Students must do a minimum of 3 months activity for each of the Volunteering, Physical, and Skills sections. Students also must spend an extra three months on one of the Volunteering, Physical, or Skills sections.
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We also include two weekend camping expeditions. This takes place in Kent and is supported by Tallis Staff. Participants are expected to be highly independent and navigate and cook for themselves over the two days. A range of equipment is available to borrow if an individual needed kit.
How do I get started?
At the start of year 10 there will be an assembly to launch the award and students who want to participate will be asked to return a consent form.

Once students have returned their parent/carer consent form, they will be enrolled on the eDofE platform and can start their skill, physical, and volunteering sections immediately.

You can access a helpful guide to using the eDofE platform here.
What can I do for my volunteering?​
You can help at a charity, volunteer with a local sports club, support at a school club or society, be a Tallis Ambassador, go litter picking, support a vulnerable neighbour with shopping or well-being calls.

​There are loads more suggestions on the DofE website here. 
What can I do for my skill?
  • You could learn to cook, sew, knit, crochet, paint, draw, collage, calligraphy.
  • You could take up photography, creative writing, arts and crafts.
  • Learn to code, design video games, write a play or film, learn chess.
  • You can learn a language through an app or online class.
  • You can learn or practice a musical instrument, or join an orchestra.​
What can I do for my physical activity?​
  • You can continue with any sport you enjoy doing. For example, running, cycling, yoga, football, rugby tennis…
  • You can take up a new activity or keep up your fitness and training for a team sport you regularly play.
Who is my assessor and how do I get the award signed off?
We recommend you keep a record of when you complete your activity each week, in a log book and if possible, take photos of what you do for your skill so that you have some evidence. Your assessor is an adult who can witness you do the activity each week. So if you are volunteering for a neighbour, they can be the assessor, or a sports coach or music teacher who you attend lessons or training session with.
How long and how often do I have to do the activity?
You can choose which of the three sections you want to do for six months. The other two will need to be completed for three months. Ideally, you should complete each of your three activities once a week for about 45 minutes to an hour. If that is unrealistic for the activity you have chosen, please speak email [email protected] as it might be possible for you to do it for longer periods, less often.
Can I backdate my activities?
If you are already completing the activity, you will be able to backdate it on the eDofE system to the date you were registered for the award.
Will there be an expedition?
Yes, a key part of the Award is an expedition where participants are independently navigating in a rural area, with support from staff. This takes place in the summer term and we use camp sites in Kent. Participants need to be self-motivating and this includes carrying all equipment (tents, food, water, rain coat) and cooking your meals for the time you are away. More detailed information about the expedition will be given out and the Parents/Carers information event.
Where can I get more information about the DofE?
If you are stuck on what activities to do for your certificate or just want more information about the award there is lots more information on the DofE website or email [email protected] and speak to Miss Cooper.