The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) is a voluntary, non-competitive programme of leisure-time activities for 14–25 year olds, designed to offer pupils a personal and individual challenge.
It introduces pupils to exciting, positive, challenging and enjoyable things to do in their free time. They make new friendships, working with adults who give up their time to share skills and help organise the programme. Many things they do at school already may count towards one of the sections, so they are validating what they already do.
In DofE, pupils learn new skills, help others and experience adventure. What's more, it's prestigious and valued by influential people, organisations and employers; Gold is not known as the Golden A Level for nothing!
We are a Directly Licensed Centre (DLC) and run DofE at all three levels:
- Bronze - in the Third Form
- Silver - in the Fourth Form
- Gold - in the Fifth Form
Each award requires completion of four activities, one from each of the following sections:
- Volunteering – giving help in your local community. Each year, Kimbolton pupils undertake approximately 1200 volunteer hours
- Skills – covering nearly every hobby, skill or interest
- Expedition – training for and completing a journey on foot or horseback, by boat or cycle
- Physical – sport, dance or fitness
- ... and for the Gold Award only, a Residential – spending 5 or more days and 4 nights on a purposeful project with new companions.
Gold Award winners are invited to St James's Palace to receive their certificates and badges from HRH The Duke of Edinburgh or one of his representatives.