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Original poster

DoE - is it worth it

53 replies

dontdarepokethebear · 18/09/2023 15:35

DD's school is offering DoE award in year 10. DD feels she should do it, if only to put on her CV.

Do you think it makes a difference? Even if you only do bronze?

I think it would be good for her, but she's only considering it because she feels she should. How much weight do you think it carries?

Thanks

OP posts:
ohtowinthelottery · 18/09/2023 18:05

It depends on your daughter's personality and what other extra curricular activities she does.
A teenager who never does outdoor activities, is ferried everywhere in the car, couldn't navigate their way out of a paper bag and whose solution to every problem is to ask a grown up what to do then I'd say it would be absolutely worth doing.
If they are in army/air cadets or plsy lots of team sports travel independently on foot or public transport (not just to school) and is mature in thinking for themselves, then not so much.

My DS did it and the public facing volunteering that he did gave him much more confidence so that when he came to apply for jobs he had some great skills to add (cv's for school leavers can be quite sparse in the skills department).

bulby · 18/09/2023 18:10

I really dislike the narrative that DoE isn’t of any value because it makes no difference to CVs or uni applications.

The value of it is in the experiences for the young people, the opportunity to volunteer and do things for other people, learning skills and learning to stick at things.

It should be for the child, not what the child can get out of it in the future.

MariaVT65 · 18/09/2023 18:15

I would honestly reiterate here that DD doesn’t need to do DofE to find a volunteering opportunity. When I was 15 I volunteered at a holiday center for disabled people. It was great, I made teas, chatter with the residents and helped with dinner service.

There are always places like baby banks looking for volunteers to sort through donations etc. Plenty of things out there :)

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itsmyp4rty · 18/09/2023 18:22

I don't see why it couldn't be relevant on a personal statement. For example if the volunteering is relevant to your topic then it could be, or the new skill could be a new computer language, a new foreign language etc. I've also read that an 85/15 percent split on things relevant to your subject/other interests. DS only did bronze which I wouldn't put on but I definitely think gold could be relevant to your CV and don't know why people are being snotty about it in relation to uni applications.

clipclop5 · 18/09/2023 18:44

DD did Silver level through school and in all honestly it was a complete waste of hundreds of pounds worth of expedition fees and gear (those boots, coats, rucksacks etc aren’t cheap!). Unless she’s really into the expedition part then she’s much better just doing the extracurriculars activities or sports that she wants to do and volunteering in her own time. Just stating on a CV that she has DofE bronze, silver etc really means nothing as so do half the country.

RedAndWhiteCarnations · 18/09/2023 18:47

I dint think it carries any weight anymore (one dc did the bronze, the other Gold).
But it taught them to work as a team, one if them clearly show their skills as a leader. They had to do some volunteering which took both of them out if their confidence zone.
My nephew grew a lot in confidence doing it too.

So on a personal level , i think they both benefitted.
For their Uni statement etc? No. On aCV, I doubt it too (esp with the Bronze)

CurlewKate · 18/09/2023 18:51

@itsmyp4rty "don't know why people are being snotty about it in relation to uni applications."

I'm not being snotty. It's just that anything that costs as much as the DofE can't really be taken into consideration on a personal statement because many people just can't afford to do it.

annabea101 · 18/09/2023 18:55

dontdarepokethebear · 18/09/2023 15:35

DD's school is offering DoE award in year 10. DD feels she should do it, if only to put on her CV.

Do you think it makes a difference? Even if you only do bronze?

I think it would be good for her, but she's only considering it because she feels she should. How much weight do you think it carries?

Thanks

I did it and definitely think it helped me get my jobs in my early teens but not so much now. It was good character building with the volunteering etc - would recommend!

RampantIvy · 18/09/2023 18:57

I would honestly reiterate here that DD doesn’t need to do D of E to find a volunteering opportunity

DD was a young leader at Brownies for three years. She had no interest in doing D of E. The Brownie leader used to get a little irritated about D of E volunteers doing their three month stint to tick a box never to be seen again. That said one of the girls stayed for a couple of years.

@clipclop5 I think the expense is why universities don't take D of E into account on personal statements.

yumscrummy · 18/09/2023 18:59

MariaVT65 · 18/09/2023 18:15

I would honestly reiterate here that DD doesn’t need to do DofE to find a volunteering opportunity. When I was 15 I volunteered at a holiday center for disabled people. It was great, I made teas, chatter with the residents and helped with dinner service.

There are always places like baby banks looking for volunteers to sort through donations etc. Plenty of things out there :)

Yes but DofE forces them to do volunteering. My dd wouldn't be coaching if she hadn't done DofE.

Vitriolinsanity · 18/09/2023 19:02

Yes. My DS absolutely loves it. Goes in groaning, comes out high as a kite.

Kids love challenge, independent living and choice. Learn from mistakes about what to take to eat. Discussion and planning, realising when they need to step up or act as peacemakers.

Airconner · 18/09/2023 19:08

RedAndWhiteCarnations · 18/09/2023 18:47

I dint think it carries any weight anymore (one dc did the bronze, the other Gold).
But it taught them to work as a team, one if them clearly show their skills as a leader. They had to do some volunteering which took both of them out if their confidence zone.
My nephew grew a lot in confidence doing it too.

So on a personal level , i think they both benefitted.
For their Uni statement etc? No. On aCV, I doubt it too (esp with the Bronze)

Agree - do it for personal development, if it’s just to put something on your CB then it’s not worth it.my dcs did it 6 years ago and it cost a small fortune, we could afford it, if cash was an issue I’d swerve it.

SusieKin · 18/09/2023 19:11

They are required to do voluntary work for the DoE which is invaluable when they are applying for their first part-time job. It also increases confidence and my kids have learnt lots of new skills.

Airconner · 18/09/2023 19:14

Jeannie88 · 18/09/2023 18:03

Whether it carries recognised weight or not, it is very highly regarded and would sway an opinion if choice of them and one without. It shows extra admirable characteristics that any educational institution or employer would view as positive. Also for personal achievements and experiences, so much learning and confidence building happens. Xx

Quite strong statements here I’m assuming you have some facts to back up these statements - or are they just your opinions?

CurlewKate · 18/09/2023 19:16

@Jeannie88 "Whether it carries recognised weight or not, it is very highly regarded and would sway an opinion if choice of them and one without."

Really? So rich kid gets it....

anomaly2 · 18/09/2023 19:18

Jeannie88 · 18/09/2023 18:03

Whether it carries recognised weight or not, it is very highly regarded and would sway an opinion if choice of them and one without. It shows extra admirable characteristics that any educational institution or employer would view as positive. Also for personal achievements and experiences, so much learning and confidence building happens. Xx

It's not regarded by universities and beyond university literally no one cares. Perhaps gold might make some people think you have some determination but bronze and silver? Nah. It's seem as something private school dc as a norm so not impressive

RoseAndRose · 18/09/2023 19:21

Encourage her to do it.

It's broadening, and might help to see that there's more to learning and experience than ticking boxes at some point in the future

MariaVT65 · 18/09/2023 19:24

The university point is interesting as many people actually have done some actual paid jobs in time to submit their personal statement. So considering many people also have a general hobby or interest, I’m not sure how much uni would care that they did some camping and a hike a while ago, in relation to more recent paid work.

I would agree with PPs who said it doesn’t count for uni applications. Also depends I suppose on what course you’re applying for. I did bronze and silver, I never mentioned them on my statemenr and I was offered a place at every uni I applied to.

Oblomov23 · 18/09/2023 19:30

Ds2 asked if it was ok if he didn't do it, as too busy with football and cross country, and I said that was fine. If it's good for dc then great, but it ok if not, carries little weight for getting into Uni.

Twizzletoe · 18/09/2023 19:31

Another one saying it is valuable but not necessarily for university applications. My youngest has finished the bronze and has decided to do silver too. For skill he picked cooking so once a week we had a meal he had selected and cooked, for activity he was going to the gym regularly anyway. But for volunteering he selected a local group that teaches cycling skills and hires out various adapted bikes. It has been lovely to see. He goes whatever the weather, was invited to the Christmas night out, has learnt people skills and bicycle maintainence! Rearranged some other activity with friends because he didn’t want to miss the autism awareness training! Now he may have become much more confident in interactions with others through explored scouts as well but I am so proud of how he has responded to this volunteering activity. He kept going regularly even after the required weeks for DofE had passed - it really has been brilliant to see.

Remmy123 · 18/09/2023 20:02

Good experience but coming from someone e that works in recruitment having it on your CV makes zero difference.

Original poster
dontdarepokethebear · 18/09/2023 20:03

Thank you for all the replies- it's very helpful.

I'm going to encourage DD to do it for her own personal development and exposure to new skills and experiences. She already does some volunteering but this would encourage her to try new things and build her fragile confidence.

OP posts:
Jeannie88 · 19/09/2023 09:27

CurlewKate · 18/09/2023 19:16

@Jeannie88 "Whether it carries recognised weight or not, it is very highly regarded and would sway an opinion if choice of them and one without."

Really? So rich kid gets it....

I've never thought just rich kids do it, in fact it's often been the ones who don't get to do those activities in their normal lives? In career talks it's advised to try to attain other achievements as not all kids are academically gifted so I would like to think the opposite in fact. Sorry if it came across that way, I'm completely on the side of equality, it's just the extra endeavours that make them stand out was my point, could be a sport, robot club, anything that shows a bit extra interest and effort.

Oakbeam · 19/09/2023 10:07

I've never thought just rich kids do it

It never used to be that way. I did it years and years ago and the different groups in the area pooled resources to run the scheme There was a mix from youth clubs, secondary moderns (showing my age), grammar, and private schools.

Flatandhappy · 19/09/2023 10:16

Totally depends on the child, I disagree that it is highly regarded as it’s pretty common (or maybe that is just where I live where it is compulsory in a lot of private schools) so if it is being done for some kind of perceived advantage I wouldn’t bother. If your child will enjoy the components then go for it. Having a part time job or doing some voluntary work by itself shows time management skills and empathy.