I completed my DofE up to silver level back when it wasn’t so common in schools. For me it was a great experience topped of by canoeing down the Dordogne with my friends! I will forever remember losing all the best haribo sweets down the river after my friends boats capsized! Fast forward 20 years and I now run the DofE programme at a school where over 250 pupils take part each year! I run all the expeditions in house and love seeing pupils happy faces when they receive their awards at our presentation evening.
Seeing Gold DofE groups on their last day after 4 days walking or canoeing, exhausted but elated, many in tears with amazement they have completed their expedition!
Receiving assessor reports about pupils who have helped out venerable people during this pandemic has been a highlight of being a DofE manager.

Doing the DofE award myself all those years ago lead to where I am now. In a job I love helping pupils toward their own fantastic achievement.