Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

Exeter School’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme offers pupils one of the most rewarding personal development programmes available anywhere in the UK. With 36 dedicated places for Middle Fifth (Year 10) pupils, plus further opportunities to take part alongside other activities, the scheme sits proudly within the school’s Friday 5 programme.

Why the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Matters

Universities and employers alike recognise the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, or DofE, as one of the very best programmes for developing young people. It challenges pupils to step outside their comfort zone, build resilience, and discover skills they never knew they had.

Exeter School is committed to delivering DofE to the highest possible standard across all three levels:

group of young boys cooking on a static stove

Bronze

group of 6 girls doing dofe

Silver

people reaching the top of a view point

Gold

Whichever level pupils reach, the goal remains the same: to make the experience enjoyable, challenging, and genuinely life-changing.

Making the Most of Devon’s Stunning Landscape

Exeter School’s location gives pupils a huge advantage when it comes to DofE expeditions. Dartmoor and Exmoor sit right on the doorstep, offering some of the most beautiful and varied terrain in the country for expedition training. Pupils also benefit from regular trips abroad, broadening their experience well beyond the county’s borders.

Over the last five years, Exeter School pupils have achieved a remarkable amount through the DofE scheme, completing:

  • 1,690 hours of volunteering
  • 1,430 hours of physical activity
  • 1,456 hours of learning a new skill

These figures reflect the sheer scale of commitment pupils bring to their DofE journey — and the difference it makes to their personal growth.

Gold Expeditions: A School Career Highlight

For many pupils, the Gold DofE expedition becomes one of the standout memories of their entire school career. Recent expeditions have taken pupils to some spectacular locations, including:

  • Morocco
  • Spain
  • The Brecon Beacons, Wales

In 2018, Exeter School partnered with Haven Banks to offer Gold DofE participants a sea kayaking expedition around Scotland. The trip proved hugely popular with pupils and was widely regarded as one of the scheme’s most successful ventures to date.