Can I be really nosy and ask what you paid for Duke of Edinburgh award through school

[Mondayforthebin]

So DS's was nearly £300 which at the time I thought sounded okay for a 3 day residential & training etc but I've just been speaking to Dsis and her DC only paid £50 (this was a few years ago though). I just assumed that everyone paid the same but it would appear not. As I said just being a bit nosy now to see what others have paid.

You're really not- most teachers who run DfE do it entirely for free.

Costs will vary between schools but may well include things like transport to an expedition site (and coaches have massively gone up this year) and paying for camping etc, which is increasingly difficult to access for free in some parts of the country.

Some schools will cover the cost, but increasingly this sort of slack isn't there in school budgets.

Fortunately, for the vast majority of uni courses, they really aren't interested in DofE

State school. Told at information evening it would be £150. It's actually cost well over £300. Petrol to and from practice/real expeditions (no transport provided), petrol ferrying to and from volunteering/sport, equipment hire, costs associated with the skill element. Had we known the real cost we wouldn't have signed up.

@Basilthymerosemary
Yes I do think it should be free. If a school offers the award it should open to everyone regardless of the ability or willingness of parents to pay.

I am a bit confused! What are you paying for? Both my DCs completed D of E and we weren't asked to pay anything to the school (state). Provided money to DCs for food for expeditions and gas canisters was all.

Not true at all.
Even on this thread people have said some state schools subsidise it, and many, many young people do the DofE Awards through organisations where the adults give their time for free.

Total of £55 for practice and main ( 2 different weekends). Only bronze tho (I night away). We had to supply food and clothing but no equipment

Well that is because your dcs' school subsidised it.
Each Award scheme participant has to pay a fee to register (I'm going back quite a few years now but think it was £22 last time I remember ??)

Some schools have their own mini bus, others might need to hire one, others might ask parents to take them to the expedition and practice one.
Some schools have kit they lend out - which will need maintaining and replacing. Not just rucksacks, tents and boots, but maps and compasses etc.
Participants will need to pay campsite fees.

£334 this year for silver, which includes the practice and assessed expedition.
We have been told this also includes £35 registration with the DofE.

£22 fee, plus some equipment. They walk to/from school to the expedition site. Wild camping is free in Scotland. Teachers volunteer so don’t get paid. That’s for bronze.

I’ve got two sons doing Bronze at the moment. One is an Air Cadet and all I’ve had to buy is the kit he needed. Pretty pricy all in but it can all be reused.

The other is doing it through his (state) school and I paid £40 for the practice hike but the school provided kit for anyone that needed it through the external provider. I bought his kit but it wasn’t necessary. I also had to pay his registration fees. I don’t remember doing it for the one in Air Cadets, but maybe they’ve forgotten and a bill will turn up.

I am happy to pay for DoE whether the universities rate it or not. I think it’s a good for building character and leadership skills so there are benefits beyond university entrance.

if parents can’t afford it I’d be happy to pay an additional sum to cover costs or participate in fundraising. School activities should be accessible which is why I don’t agree with school trips to far off lands for £1000s.

Thanks @Postapocalypticcowgirl that makes me feel better. I was concerned that I was disadvantaging my children yet again! I would prefer to use money to help pay for driving lessons.

To me the DoE feels a bit dated and out of touch, as unfortunately even £50 will put it out of the reach of some parents, especially when you factor in food and equipment.

Is it true that you have to be able to hike a considerable distance or your group fails?

£300+ through school ( bronze, state school, Scotland). DS chose to do it through the Scouts/Explorers, £150, totally agreed with him

Wow, it does vary wildly. I spoke to DS last night and he said that his friends who received free school meals got it cheaper but still over £100.

Dd1 did Bronze last year at school, it was £42. She's just starting Silver at cadets no outright cost but there will be camp costs etc when they come up.

no, all the teacher involved are volunteering

It depends on whether the school has assessors, or are buying in assessors.

If the school can assess them itself, then you are only paying the cost of running it, the tents, the minibus, etc

It the school is buying in assessors then the cost is far higher, and there should be options for families that cant meet the cost.

For a large school to run a large DofE kohort, they will need around 20 staff. That will normally be 10 outside assessors, and 10 from the school.

If the school runs it themselves, they need 20 volunteers to give up multiple weekends. They also need many of these staff to be fully trained assessors - more time given up voluntarily. They also leave themselves with no wiggle room if there are any disputes, or other problems with assessors, as with an outside company, you can just change assessor

You are also left with the uncomfortable situation of students having to return into lessons for several years, with staff who have failed them

It works out best to have outside assessors, and the school staff to be left in a position where they are fully supporting, and not giving judgements.

But please be aware, many outside assessors are also doing it for very little, often only for expenses, (which of course can run into hundreds, if they have travelled a long way and need local accommodation, etc)

There is more to DofE than the expedition, and yes for the expedition you do it as a group. It may have changed but I don’t think it’s a minimum distance but for bronze it’s two days one night, with the expectation that 6 hours each day will be waking.

part of the expedition is also planning it and so that’s where the route will be drawn up to hopefully match the ability of the participants

£60 for bronze.

what - being outside and active is outdated and out of touch 😂

No, children with a physical disability get more leeway and the challenge for their particular team will be set differently by the assessor

High School in Perthshire. £60 and due to do the expedition in April. We are about 3/4 of the way through volunteering and skills. Some of you are paying huge amounts.

It’s fun Etc but an utter waste of time for uni applications etd

£120 for bronze at my DC's school.

Dont do it for that reason, do it for personal development and independence

Please support your teachers striking as this is one thing that will be outsourced and/or not subsidized without fully funded pay rises and without tackling workload teachers don’t have the energy to give up their weekends too.
(yes I am a teacher, who used to give up weekends to support DofE)