At St John’s School and Sixth Form in Bishop Auckland, we are proud to offer an active and supportive Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) programme at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. The DofE Award is a nationally recognised scheme that encourages young people to be adventurous, build confidence and develop valuable life skills that last a lifetime.
Taking part is never about passing or failing — it’s about having a go, trying new things and challenging yourself. Whether students want to improve fitness, learn a new skill, help the community or experience the outdoors, the DofE Award offers something for everyone. You never know what you can achieve until you set your mind to a challenge.
Who Can Take Part?
The programme is open to all young people aged 14 to 24. At St John’s, students can begin working towards the award at the appropriate level and are supported throughout by our experienced staff team.
Why Do the DofE Award?
By taking part in DofE, young people can:
- Build confidence and resilience
- Learn new skills and discover new interests
- Improve fitness and wellbeing
- Gain independence and develop teamwork
- Meet new people and make friends
- Experience outdoor adventure and challenge
- Strengthen applications for college, university and employment
The award is highly respected for its focus on commitment, responsibility and personal development.
How the Award Works
There are three levels:
- Bronze – minimum 6 months
- Silver – minimum 12 months
- Gold – minimum 18 months
Students choose their own activities within each section, allowing them to follow their interests and set personal goals. Most activities involve around one hour per week.
The DofE Sections
Volunteering
Helping others in the local community.
Examples: supporting charities, coaching younger children, helping at clubs or community groups.
Physical
Taking part in regular sport or physical activity.
Examples: football, netball, running, swimming, dance or fitness training.
Skills
Developing a new skill or improving an existing one.
Examples: cooking, music, photography, art, coding or learning a language.
Expedition
A walking journey lasting between two and four days, including camping and team-based challenges.
Residential (Gold only)
A short stay away from home, meeting new people and taking part in a shared activity.
Support at St John’s
Students at St John’s receive guidance and encouragement from trained staff throughout their DofE journey, including:
- Help choosing activities
- Training for expeditions
- Opportunities to develop skills and volunteering roles
- Access to equipment and resources
- Safe, supervised practice and qualifying expeditions
Gold Duke of Edinburgh Expedition 2025 – A Year to Remember
In summer 2025, twenty‑three dedicated students set out to complete their Gold DofE expedition — and it proved to be an expedition of two halves.
One group endured 27‑degree heat in the Langdale Valley in August, while the other battled days of relentless rain and 50mph winds across Borrowdale and the Ullswater Valley. Sunshine appeared only at the very end of their journey.
Despite facing weather at both extremes, every student successfully completed the demanding four‑day expedition, which included wild camping in the Langdale Valley — an unforgettable first‑time experience for many. All groups navigated with confidence, showed exceptional resilience and demonstrated what outstanding teams they had become.
As students now reach the final stages of their DofE journey and refocus on academic study, we look forward to celebrating their achievements at Buckingham Palace this summer. This remarkable team of 23 students fully deserve the accolade they have earned.
A Challenging and Rewarding Experience
Before their qualifying expedition, the group completed their practice in the remote Cheviot Hills, where they honed navigation, campcraft, cooking, water‑crossing techniques and emergency first aid. Their route even allowed them to stand with one boot in Scotland and one in England along the border.
To all of our Gold participants: we recognise how incredible you all were — not only for your determination and spirit when times were tough, but for your teamwork, empathy, environmental awareness and respect for the accommodation and landscapes you encountered. Your positive attitudes made the expedition a pleasure to lead.
We applaud your accomplishments across eight challenging days and can’t wait to see your photographs from Edinburgh Castle and Buckingham Palace this summer.
You are a credit to yourselves, your families and to St John’s School. A huge well done for your excellent expeditions, your conscientious approach to every section of your Award and the positive impression left on every residential experience. As you leave Sixth Form, we hope you carry memories from this journey that will last a lifetime.
Find Out More
We encourage students to Be Adventurous and Be Bold as they make the most of this exciting opportunity.
For more information about the national programme, please visit the official Duke of Edinburgh’s Award website.
To get involved or ask questions about DofE at St John’s, please contact the school office or our DofE Coordinator: cdavis@stjohns.bhcet.org.uk