Welcome to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at Windsor Girls' School

We are delighted to offer the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) as part of our enrichment opportunities, led by Mr Jones, our DofE Co-ordinator.  The Award is a nationally recognised programme that encourages young people to develop essential life skills, build confidence, and gain experiences that will stay with them for life.

DofE is much more than an extracurricular activity.  It provides students with the opportunity to:

• Develop resilience, independence and leadership skills.
• Commit to volunteering, making a positive contribution to the community.
• Improve their physical health and wellbeing.
• Learn and grow through a personal skill or hobby.
• Take part in the expedition, a memorable challenge that fosters teamwork, problem-solving and determination.

The Award is highly regarded by employers, colleges, and universities.  It demonstrates a young person’s ability to balance commitments, overcome challenges, and show dedication - qualities that are invaluable for higher education and future careers.

Under the guidance of Mr Jones, our students are supported throughout their DofE journey, ensuring that they not only succeed in achieving the Award but also enjoy the process and make the most of every opportunity.  We are proud of the number of students who embrace the challenge of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award each year and we look forward to celebrating their achievements.

Exciting News for the 2025/2026 Academic Year

From September 2025, we are expanding our DofE programme to give even more students the chance to get involved:

• Year 9 students can now begin their DofE journey by enrolling in Bronze.
• Year 10 students may join Bronze, or choose to start directly at Silver.
• Year 11 students will have the opportunity to take part in Silver, further building their skills and experiences.
• Sixth Form students can complete the final stage by working towards the prestigious Gold Award.

These new pathways mean that students across key stages 4/5 can take part in the DofE at a level that suits them, with the opportunity to progress all the way through to Gold.  Each stage of the Award helps young people to grow in confidence, independence and resilience, while gaining experiences and achievements that are recognised and valued beyond school.

As part of the expedition section, we are pleased to confirm the following off-site training and camp dates:

• Bronze Assessed Camp:  April TBC locations Henley-on-Thames 2 days, 1 night
• Silver Practice Camp: April TBC location TBC 3 days, 2 nights
• Silver Assessed Camp: May TBC locations TBC 3 days, 2 nights
• Gold Practice Camp: TBC
• Gold Assessed Camp: TBC

For further information the following links can help.

For more information, please contact:

Mr Jones – DofE Co-ordinator – CJones@windsorgirls.net

Links:

Historical information