Discover Your Potential at St Marys CE High School with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Are you ready to challenge yourself, try something new, and stand out from the crowd?
At St Mary’s, we are proud to offer students the chance to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award at Bronze and Silver Awards.
The DofE Award is more than just an extracurricular activity – it is an unforgettable experience that helps you grow in confidence, independence, and resilience.
Why should you get involved?
- Build confidence and become more independent
- Make a difference through volunteering in your community
- Learn new skills or develop existing talents
- Take part in an exciting expedition with your friends
- Enhance your CV and future opportunities
Bronze Award (Year 9)
Start your journey by completing activities in volunteering, physical, and skills sections – plus your first expedition adventure.
Silver Award (Year 10)
Take on a bigger challenge with longer commitments and a more demanding expedition.
Who can take part?
All students in Years 9 and 10 are encouraged to join – no previous experience is needed!
Sign up now!
Speak to DofE Coordinators Mrs Williams or Mr Naughten.
Take the first step – Challenge yourself – Achieve more with DofE at St Mary’s
The Breakdown
Bronze Award (Year 9)
The Bronze level is usually the starting point and is ideal for 14 year old students who are new to the program.
What you have to do…
There are four sections to complete:
- Volunteering – helping others or the community (e.g. charity work, coaching younger students)
- Physical – improving in a sport or fitness activity
- Skills – developing a personal skill (e.g. cooking, coding, playing an instrument)
- Expedition – planning, training for, and completing an outdoor group journey
Time Commitment
- You must spend at least 3 months on each of the Volunteering, Physical, and Skills sections
- One of these sections must be done for 6 months
- Two expeditions – one practice, one assessed – each expedition will involve two days and one night in the countryside
Silver Award (Year 10)
The Silver is the next award up and is more challenging. A 15 year old can either:
- Move up from Bronze, or
- Start directly at Silver (but with extra time requirements)
What you have to do…
There are four sections to complete:
- Volunteering – helping others or the community (e.g. charity work, coaching younger students)
- Physical – improving in a sport or fitness activity
- Skills – developing a personal skill (e.g. cooking, coding, playing an instrument)
- Expedition – planning, training for, and completing an outdoor group journey
Time Commitment
- If you have completed Bronze, most sections take 6 months, with one lasting longer
- If you start directly at Silver, you must spend an additional 6 months in one section
- The two expeditions – one practice, one assessed – are more demanding as each expedition will involve three days and two nights in the countryside
Why it matters
Completing Bronze or Silver can:
- Build confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills
- Improve college, university and job applications
- Encourage independence and resilience
Are you brave enough to take the challenge?
