Bronze DofE £250 through school

titchy really, all courses at all universities?

Yes. Unless that extra curricular is directly relevant - so working in a cat rescue might be relevant for vet med as part of a range of animal experience, but History at Durham - nah!

Why are we constantly told otherwise by the school?

Because schools don't have that much experience of university admissions, and like to have wholesome stuff their students have done to put in newsletters to impress parents

Schools and scouts are only able to offer it more cheaply if parents and teachers offer to run it in their own time. How many of those moaning about the cost have volunteered their time to help run it? I'm sure our school was about £70 for bronze. Gold has just cist us about £600 But that's because DS1 has problems with his feet and therefore opted to kayak and that meant buying in outside resource. DH drives the minibus for the school organised trips and I do the data protection stuff. The group is run by a parent as are all the leaders parent volunteers. If the school don't have the volunteers then they will need to buy in outside companies.

You’re probably told otherwise because bright eyed bushy tailed teenagers showing off their awards looks good on the school website here.

In the not so distant past, I did admissions interviews for university. I can confirm, I did not give a shiny shite about DofE.

I certainly got that impression while doing uni visits with DD this year. I don't think they are bothered if you have done World Challenge either. I suspect they are more interested if you have done something for the community like help at Cubs/Brownies/Youth club etc.

The same has happened at my daughters school with a massive price rocket. We felt that the cost was unreasonable and it wasn’t something we could commit to.
A number of the kids “failed” their practice expedition, which is unheard of. Their parents had to stomp up more cash for a second trip before the real thing. The majority have dropped out after Bronze, not going on to do Silver. That in itself speaks volumes.
In my opinion, it’s lost it’s value as so many kids do it. Our daughter thought it’d be more valuable to volunteer off her own initiative. By becoming more involved her the local community she’ll develop the skills she needs. She is already actively involved in sport, showing leadership and team work.
An UCAS personal statement can draw on other strengths. We go out walking as a family for free!

titchy really, all courses at all universities? (Genuine question - I'm not doubting you.)

Why are we constantly told otherwise by the school?

It's really sad but at my school three members of staff have given up hours of their time for meetings etc and then a weekend for the walk every year but they receive no money or time back. In addition all the responsibility that comes with it means it's not worth staff volunteering anymore. This is the same for all trips, trying to get cover is a nightmare so it's easier sometimes to not do them.
The national citizens service do a brilliant two week course which is very cheap and includes lots of activities.

Try contacting them directly - www.dofe.org/about-us-2/
The award was set up to be inclusive, so your experience doesn't make any sense.

My son did D of E entirely for free through an organization that was loosely affiliated to Scouts so I dunno why anyone would pay all this kind of money when there's alternatives

It's not just your school. We have also been quoted £250 plus the cost to the local council which was around £65. The £250 goes to the company that now run it. Other parents at the school have children in scouts etc and yes, they are getting it for a much reduced rate. Also, I went to a meeting about the DofE and the presenter was quick to tell us that DofE was considered the top attribute from prospective employers (after grades, but before work experience which I find hard to believe!)

However I MUST point out, because this myth gets spread year after year after year - UNIVERSITIES DO NOT GIVE A SHINY SHIT ABOUT D OF E, OR GRADE 8 PIANO, OR VOLUNTEERING AT THE CAT RESCUE, UNLESS THOSE ACTIVITIES ARE DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO THE DEGREE.

It's probably because your Council is no longer acting as the operating authority (ours isn't due to budget cuts ). It costs schools a LOT to act as their own operating authority (unless they share that cost in a consortium arrangement with other schools), so many are now outsourcing to private providers.

As pp have said - Scouts and guides are their own operating authorities so usually able to offer DofE much more cheaply.

I just can't imagine what they're charging the £250 for? Could you just ring the school and ask? The whole point of DofE is that you organise tryout own voluntary work, your own out of school sport and other activity and plan / bring all your own kit and food for two one-night expeditions.
Maybe the school are providing the required activities in that price?

If they want to do it fine but I don't think it really adds anything to their CV / ucas application, unless they've taken it all the way to Gold.

Both my DC were told to take it out of their ucas statement as so many applicants had at least a bronze, it wasn't worth the extra words that could be used for something else.

I was actually surprised at how little extra curricular was considered relevant, my DS was told that they were only interested in maths, further maths and more maths.

We all know that teacher wsorkloads are being increased and increased. If staff now feel that they have no time to run DoE awards then that's fair enough I think.

My year at school had no DoE offered as teachers were in dispute with the government and working their contracted hours only. It was a shame but you can't demand that people give up yet more of their free time to educate your child.

That's ridiculous and completely against the ethos of dofe. It should be accessible to everyone regardless of income. I'm pretty annoyed that you are being asked for £250! I couldn't afford that for my ds.

My ds does it through his cadet unit. Cadets costs me £11 per month in subs and dofe costs me only the £18 (?) registration fee. All equipment apart from boots is provided. I don't have to buy anything. They also put on skill and physical activities (occasional extra cost i.e. 6 months of weekly Indoor Climbing will cost me £40/£50)

DS did his bronze last year. I had to pay £100 up front for registration etc and each expedition after that cost £50. I also had to buy the kit and the rucksack alone was £50! DD is eligible this year but I really can't afford it again, even with her using DS's rucksack. I've just received the email requesting payment for the school fund which is £140 for the two of them so I really haven't got the money

Blimey Vera - that means the company will rake in £37,000.00 for taking students out for a walk!!!!!!

Same for us. I was really keen for dd to do it as I'm involved with Guides (we don't offer it anymore).
Cost £230 due to outside company running it. We couldn't afford it so she didn't do it (and grumbled a lot each weekend her friends were doing it).

Our school has told the kids not to put DofE or prefect positions or music or dance grades on their PS for UCAS....just to offer another perspective.

That’s around the price our school is asking for. Absolutely everything included apart from walking boots though, and we can pay in several instalments. Also there are concessions for those in need of them. No one would be left out if their parents couldn’t afford it.

No outside provider but because well over 150 kids are doing it, they do need extra teaching staff who can’t all do it for free.