Welcome to Queenswood’s Duke of Edinburgh Award

Queenswood School is proud to offer the Bronze, Silver and Gold Award to pupils in Year 9 to Year 13. Our adventures take us to the Chiltern Hills, the Peak District, the Wye Valley, the Scottish Highlands, the Welsh mountains and overseas.

So what is the Duke of Edinburgh Award?

The Award is split into four sections: Volunteering, Physical, Skill and the Expedition. At Queenswood we offer support in all sections

Volunteering

The aim of volunteering is to give back to your community, make a difference to other people’s lives and develop your own personal skills. You could volunteer around school by running or attending a club or clinic, volunteering in the library or fundraising for our school charity.

Physical

Your physical section does not need to be a brand new activity. You may already be in a sports club in school or attend a class outside of school, or you may take this opportunity to try a new sport and push your boundaries. The aim of this section is to improve in your chosen physical activity and work on your personal development.

Skill

The aim of the skill section is to encourage you to expand on the skills you already have or try to develop a new skill. Queenswood offers a wide range of skills that students can start in their own time, for example, Speech and Drama, learning an instrument, developing sport coaching skills and learning to cook. There are also many opportunities to learn skills remotely, via the DofE website.

Expedition

With each Award, the expeditions extend in duration and ability. At Queenswood, we offer walking expeditions; however, this does not limit our students. We take pride in working with companies that offer Open Expeditions, for example canoeing, horse riding, cycling and sailing.

Residential

Gold students have the opportunity to do a residential week away from home and challenge themselves. Gold students research, plan and attend the residential on their own, and often link the course to their hobbies or interests. For example, we have had students attend a cookery school, a conservation and photography trip to the Isle of Arran, and a First and Self-Defence summer camp programme.

Queenswood also offers the World Challenge Expedition as part of the residential programme. In summer 2024, we will travel to Borneo.

If you would like to join the DofE Award, please follow the link at the bottom of the page.

Rachel Yaffe, Duke of Edinburgh Award Co-ordinator