Welcome to the Duke of Edinburgh Parent and Student Support Hub at St Paul’s Academy.

 

This page has been designed to provide helpful links and resources to support both students and parents throughout the DofE Award journey. Whether you're looking for guidance, inspiration, or practical information, you’ll find everything you need to stay informed and engaged.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all students who have recently begun their Bronze Award—an exciting step toward personal growth, new experiences, and achievement. I wish you every success as you progress through the programme.

To our parents and carers: your support plays a vital role in your child's success. If you have any questions or would like advice about any aspect of the award, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. I’m here to help.

Kindest regards,
Mr. Davis
(gordon.davis@stpauls.greenwich.sch.uk)

"Without DofE, I wouldn't have gained the skills and knowledge that I have today."- Simao (Year 9)

Be Who YOU Want to Be!

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award offers students at St Paul’s Academy an excellent opportunity to challenge themselves and develop key life skills such as leadership, resilience, and responsibility. These qualities not only support personal growth but also provide a strong foundation as students prepare for the transition to Sixth Form and beyond. 

Taking part in DofE can be especially valuable for young people. In this section of the website, you’ll find an introduction to the programme, details of what it involves, and inspiring stories from students who have completed the award. Their experiences highlight the real impact DofE can have—boosting confidence, encouraging independence, and helping students thrive in new environments.

The video above offers a glimpse into the exciting opportunities available at St Paul’s Academy. Whether you choose the Bronze or Silver Award, DofE is your chance to grow, discover new strengths, and create unforgettable memories!

"Hard work pays off. A message I can take from DofE throughout my own life" - Delphinal (Year 11)

What is the DofE?

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a prestigious youth development programme, founded in the United Kingdom in 1956 by Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh. Since its inception, the award has grown to reach young people in over 140 countries worldwide. It recognises the achievements of adolescents and young adults who complete a series of self-improvement challenges, inspired in part by Kurt Hahn’s solutions to the "Six Declines of Modern Youth."

At St Paul’s Academy, our students have embraced this opportunity wholeheartedly. For example, they have actively contributed to the ‘Compassion and Mercy’ element of the programme through their volunteering efforts—supporting Year 7 homework clubs, leading reading projects within school, and making a meaningful impact in the wider community. Students have also volunteered as stewards of the environment by helping to increase biodiversity, worked in charity shops, and served as librarians.

These contributions are a testament to the positive impact of the DofE Award and the dedication of our students. We are incredibly proud of the way they have grown as individuals and served as valuable members of both our school and the broader community.

"Even the sky is no longer the limit, you have no excuse to stop striving forward. A message I took from the Bronze Award for life." ~Angel (Year 10)

Kurt Hahn’s solutions to the “Six Declines of Model Youth”

What does your child gain from the award?

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has brought a wide range of benefits to your children—benefits we hope you’ve also experienced at home. Many students have taken on more responsibility by helping with household chores, assisting with preparing meals, and contributing more positively to family life. While results may vary, the essence of the programme is to nurture resilience, independence, and self-motivation—qualities that support both academic success and future professional aspirations.

The DofE Award fosters lifelong learning and builds valuable skills that enhance intrinsic motivation and career prospects. In a recent article featuring interviews with top business leaders, many CEOs shared that, when hiring for managerial positions, they would favour a candidate with a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award over one with a newly earned university degree. That’s a powerful endorsement of the real-world value the programme brings.

"There's no secret to success in the DofE, it's only through hard work that we achieve. What a message to experience for life!" ~Asmau (Year 11)

For those continuing on to Silver and Gold levels, these benefits only deepen. The Award is widely recognised for its holistic development of young people—socially, morally, spiritually, and culturally. Through volunteering, mentoring peers, and participating in initiatives like 'Faith in Action,' our students have made meaningful contributions to the school community and beyond. They’ve shown leadership, empathy, and service—core values that reflect and enrich the ethos of St Paul’s Academy.

To all the parents and carers of all those who have achieved the Bronze Award: your children have been true assets to our school. You have every reason to be proud of their achievements and the young people they are becoming.

Some of the benefits for your children include:

“Through this award I have been given the opportunity to discover and develop the skills I need for life.” ~ Stephanie (Year 10)

What does your child do for the Bronze Award? 

The Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award: A Journey of Growth and Achievement

The Bronze Award is structured around three core sections: Volunteering, Physical, and Skills. Students can complete these through activities either within or outside of school, committing to at least one hour per week for each section. Thanks to the new structure of our school day, students have been able to engage in lunchtime or after-school clubs aligned with these categories, with staff signing off their progress after completing either a 3- or 6-month commitment.

• Activities for each DofE section take a minimum of one hour per week over a set period of time of 3 months, so they can fit in around our students’ studies and life outside school. 
• The students will need to participate regularly and show that they’re committed to DofE award during this time.

We have seen enthusiastic participation in a variety of activities—from gardening and tree planting, to Afro Beats dance clubs led by students, and leadership roles in sports clubs. Each of these contributed meaningfully to students’ development in their chosen DofE section.

"A message I have learnt is that without trying you will never know how far you will get. It is better to try and fail than not to try and never know the full outcome." ~Victoria (Year 11)

Volunteering Section

Litter picking and tree planting in the local grounds around the school

This section focusses on making a difference within the school or in the wider community. Examples from last year include:

• Volunteering at Woolwich Library
• Supporting our Summer Scheme for Year 6 students
• Assisting in local charity shops

These experiences nurtured a sense of responsibility, empathy, and social engagement.

“A unique opportunity; the DofE has given me confidence through trying new experiences.” ~ Gurneet (Year 12)

Physical Section

The goal here is to promote physical fitness and a ​ healthy lifestyle through regular activity. Students took part in:

• A Year 11 gym club
• Running and walking 
• Rock climbing beyond the school setting

Such activities helped participants build stamina, strength, and personal discipline.

'64% of employed adults said their DofE award helped them become employed’ (Dofe.org)

Skills Section

In this section, students develop practical abilities, personal interests, and social skills. Notable examples include:

• Creating an online jewellery business that donates proceeds to charity
• Learning the guitar through self-guided YouTube lessons
• Creating new fashion items by upcycling
• Learning how to write code or design their own websites from scratch

Students have shown an entrepreneurial spirit here that will develop skills they need for their future development.

“The award has allowed me to make time for myself and to be able to work on and develop my own skills.” ~ Kate, Year 10

The Expedition

The expedition is a key highlight of the DofE journey. In teams, students plan and complete a 6-hour walking expedition over two days, including an overnight camp. They must be fully self-sufficient, carrying their own food, cooking equipment, camping gear, and navigating their route using OS maps. Students travel independently—without adult supervision—and must meet an agreed expedition aim as a group.

Navigation is done using footpaths, tracks, and bridleways while avoiding main roads wherever possible. Students meet the leaders at checkpoints and are assessed along the route by an assessor within the team. Students have ti show independence, teamwork, map-reading and communication to successfully pass the qualifying expedition stage. Please see the list of 20 conditions below:

The 20 Conditions of the Expedition section

 

Last year’s expedition theme focused on stewardship of the wider community. Our students took this to heart—collecting and recycling rubbish along the route. Members of the public even took the time to compliment them on their commitment and care, which was a proud moment for the school. This year we have seen projects on the mapping of lichen and CO₂ levels and assessing the sustainability of an are according to Egan's Wheel of Sustainability.

“The Duke of Edinburgh Award has given me the opportunity to learn new skills and develop them. Also, the expedition/camping experience was fun and helpful towards my chosen future career.” Hayden (Year 10)

Duke of Edinburgh Breakdown to date (2024-2025)

Celebrating the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at St Paul’s Academy – Class of 2024/25

Since 2018, we are proud to share that 104 students at St Paul’s Academy have successfully achieved their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. This year alone, 24 more students are awaiting their Bronze certificates, and an additional 17 are preparing for their qualifying expedition—demonstrating the continued strength and popularity of the programme in our school.

In a first for St Paul’s Academy, we are also thrilled to announce that 10 students are now working towards their Silver Award—a fantastic milestone that shows the growing ambition and commitment of our students to further challenge themselves.

Across the years, our DofE participants have contributed over 1,900 hours of volunteering to the school and wider community, as well as more than 1,900 hours of physical activity. These efforts have not only helped students build confidence, leadership, and independence but have also had a real and lasting impact on our local school environment and wider community.

Even more impressively, our students are part of a national success story. In the 2024–25 period, over 166,000 Duke of Edinburgh Awards were achie

ved across the UK—representing a 7% increase from the previous year. As Bronze Award holders, our students join the 99,248 young people who achieved an award in the past year, collectively contributing to over 2.1 million hours of volunteering, worth an estimated £9 million in support to communities across the country.

To all of our Duke of Edinburgh participants—past, present, and future—we celebrate your dedication and growth. To the Class of 2024/25, we commend you for your outstanding achievements. You are not only making St Paul’s Academy proud but also helping shape a better future for everyone.

 

 

 

"As you reflect on your Duke of Edinburgh journey—whether you faced challenges completing sections or navigating the expedition—I hope these experiences have positively shaped how you prepare for your future. The resilience, independence, and sense of purpose you’ve developed are skills that will serve you well far beyond school.

It has been an incredible honour to deliver the award over the past few years and to walk alongside you through the Bronze Award journey. Watching your growth, your support for one another, and the positive contributions you’ve made to our school and wider community has been truly inspiring. I hope many of you go on to pursue the Silver Award and continue to challenge yourselves.

To all current and future participants: what kind of footprints do you want to leave behind? This award isn’t just about ticking boxes—it's about legacy, about the path you carve and the person you’re becoming. Trust in yourself. Trust what you’ve accomplished. Trust in the passion and potential within you. Let the steps you’ve taken on this journey guide the next ones, as you leave your own mark on the world—because you are the future.

And to the next generation of students: we invite you to take on the challenge. Step forward, sign up, and begin your own adventure with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Whether it’s Bronze, Silver, or beyond—this is your opportunity to grow, lead, and make a lasting difference.

Congratulations to all of you—and welcome to those about to begin."

Mr. Davis

"The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award was a truly eye-opening experience. It pushed us beyond our comfort zones and encouraged us to explore areas far beyond our usual interests or expertise. As Year 11 students, it came at a pivotal time—challenging us during difficult moments and inspiring us to engage more deeply with the world around us.

The journey wasn’t without its fears or setbacks, but overcoming those challenges built real resilience and mental strength that we’ll carry into the future. Taking part in DofE was not just rewarding—it was transformative. I hope that my peers, and the generations who follow, embrace this opportunity and gain just as much from it as we did." - Leo Year 11